“In my watch, we’re gonna go when it is dangerous to go when things really count,” said Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., in the webinar, “Contemporary Application of Counterterrorism Concepts,” organized by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) on 5 February 2021.
Secretary Locsin also reminded the webinar participants that diplomacy is “not just learning French and getting posted in Paris,” but also countering violent extremism. The Philippines’ top diplomat also shared his experiences in handling national security matters, deciding on challenges and compromises that involved preserving lives, and addressing terrorism.
The Global Risk Mitigation Foundation (GRMF) Inc., led by its Chairperson Dr. David F. Day and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Elizabeth Chan, partnered with FSI in organizing this webinar. GRMF is a US-based nonprofit organization focused on the development of holistic and comprehensive risk assessments and innovative education-based solutions.
Resource persons, Mr. Kim Jensen and Mr. Rip McGuin, incorporated a review of the concepts on countering Islamic extremism and its contemporary practical applications in the context of recent responses of France and Egypt to terrorist attacks.
The webinar was organized exclusively for the participants of the Training Course on Counterterrorism held in Manila in December 2019.
Through this webinar, FSI continues to innovate and implement learning solutions to bridge the learning gaps of Philippine diplomats wherever they may be in the world. The head of the Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy (CPRSD), Dr. Marichu C. Liwanag, expressed appreciation to the speakers and learners who braved time differences, with diplomats from Europe, US, Middle East, and Africa joining in the webinar to learn more and benefit from the exchanges.
FSI Director-General Jose Maria A. Cariño reassured the webinar participants of FSI’s commitment to continue to upskill the counterterrorism capacity of diplomats under the pillar of national security.
