PHL diplomat elected vice chairman of UN weapons meeting

A Philippine diplomat has been elected vice chairman of a meeting on the United Nations' Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs). Leslie Gatan, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for United Nations and International Organizations was vice chair of the Meeting of Governmental Experts (MGE). "Held at the United Nations in New York on May 11, the meeting gathered all UN Member States to share views and exchange best practices in terms of marking, record keeping, and tracing small arms and light weapons," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA said arms tracing is vital in curbing the illicit trade of SALWs that may be used by terrorist cell groups. At the meeting, the DFA said the Philippines called for greater international cooperation on arms tracing. The country also cited the need to enhance technological capabilities in preventing the illicit trade of SALWS. In a Philippine statement read during the meeting, Philippine National Police (PNP) Firearms and Explosives Office Legal Officer Atty. Rachel Jane Osit underscored the achievements of the Philippines in preventing the illicit trade of SALWs. She particularly cited the verification and tracing of a cache of SALWs intercepted recently by a neighboring country. Osit was part of the Philippine delegation attending the Meeting of Governmental Experts (MGE) on the UN Program of Action on SALWs. She said international cooperation allowed the Philippines to assist in the tracing of 115 of the 181 firearms of various calibers. She said she greater international cooperation was needed to sustain the achievements of nations in the prevention of illicit trade in SALWs. Osit also underscored the importance of international cooperation in marine surveillance and response in "preventing the entry and exit of dangerous goods and other lawless elements with the ultimate goal of combating terrorism." She cited ongoing bilateral cooperation with the United States and Australia and the "triboundary cooperation between the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia in the Sulu and Celebes seas in Mindanao." - VVP, GMA News