U.S. Embassy Photo Release
November 13, 2006

U.S. Embassy Employee Receives Medal from Philippine Government
for Contributions to Anti-Terrorism Effort

A U.S. Embassy employee recently received an Outstanding Achievement Medal from Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, Office of the President’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force, for making a “critical contribution to the anti-terrorism campaign of the Philippines.” Mr. Charles Lutz, who represented the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security until his retirement this month, received the medal in an October ceremony held at the Malacanang Premier Guest House and attended by U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney.

Mr. Lutz received the Outstanding Achievement Medal for the work he accomplished with partners in the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Public Safety College, and other law enforcement institutions in the anti-terrorism campaign of the Philippines. He was cited for the assistance he provided “through capability building measures, extension of expert assistance, and other collaborative initiatives between U.S. Government agencies and officials with Philippine Government counterparts.”

During the ceremony, Mr. Lutz received accolades and certificates of appreciation from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita; Fire Chief Inspector Jose Embang, Jr.; President of the National Defense College of the Philippines Commodore Carlos Agustin; the Anti-Terrorism Task Force; and the Philippine Navy. Pictured above are Ambassador Kenney; Mr. Lutz; and Executive Secretary Ermita.

The U.S. Government’s ATA program helps bring law enforcement personnel both classroom and field training in topics such as informant development and management; surveillance; and financial investigations in order to give them more skills to fight terrorism. The U.S. Government is a staunch partner of the Philippines in its fight against terrorism.

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