THE International Criminal Police Organization has assured the Philippine National Police of support in developing its technical capability in cyber crime investigation and bio-terrorism preparedness.

This was taken up in a meeting between Interpol secretary general Ronald K. Noble and PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who were both in Hong Kong from March 4 to 7 for the 20th Interpol Asian Regional Conference.

Razon said PNP personnel from the crime laboratory and other operating and investigating units have been assured of inclusion in the Interpol's upcoming "Train the Trainors" seminar on cyber crime investigation and bio-terrorism preparedness. "The PNP welcomes this support of Interpol to the capacity-building efforts of the organization in addressing these highly-technical crime concerns," Razon said.

"Although the technology involved in bio-terrorism preparedness is quite new to us, it is never too early to be prepared and to prevent it from happening by developing the capacity to detect and respond to a crisis of this nature," he added.

Razon said the capability in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) response has now become institutionalized in modern police forces around the world as part of preparedness for both industrial accidents and acts of terrorism.

The Interpol has created a Bio-terrorism Prevention Resource Center to provide member-countries with a central point to find bio-terrorism resources relating to prevention, preparation and response.

Razon said the PNP is also cooperating with their Indonesian counterparts in developing a DNA databank of known members of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic regional militant network Jemaah Islamiyah. He said local police will assist Indonesian ones in acquiring the DNA profile of JI members known to be operating in the Philippines.

He said initial coordination has been made between the PNP and Indonesian National Police during a separate meeting in Hong Kong.