By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Wednesday said the capability of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-states to adapt and modernize has effectively kept up with the ever-changing techniques of syndicated groups, deterring the proliferation of criminal activities occurring across multiple countries.
Remulla made the statement during the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Makati City, as he explained that the member nations’ collaborative initiatives ensure that the scheme works against criminal networks behind the transnational crimes.
“We came here for one reason, to protect our people. The climate has changed since 1997. Online scams, money laundering, and drug trafficking now feed each other, and they move across borders at the speed of today’s technology,’’ the DILG chief told reporters at a press conference.
He said the first ASEAN Regional Trafficking in Persons Report was discussed, providing a regional overview of ASEAN’s efforts and progress in combating trafficking in persons.
Remulla likewise cited the advanced ASEAN declaration to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation, including material created or spent with artificial intelligence.
“This year, for the 11th year in a row, the Philippines kept its Tier 1 rating in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report. Tier 1 is given to countries whose governments fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking,’’ he said.
Together with its partner countries Japan, South Korea and China, Remulla stressed that ASEAN countries are adopting a joint statement that sets the next steps on trafficking in persons, terrorism and cybercrime.
“Cooperation is just not an idea, it is already producing results,’’ he said.
Remulla recalled when Filipinos were rescued from a scam hunt in Cambodia “with Cambodian authorities going after the bosses there, while we arrested the recruiters here (Philippines).”
Early this month, he recounted that a shipment of over 500 kilograms of suspected shabu bound for the Philippines was stopped in Laos because “our information moved between countries.”
On the security threats in the Southeast Asian region, Remulla mentioned that the ASEAN group is very particular with border protection, trafficking in human persons and emerging cybercrime threats in the region.
“It is not a localized Philippine thing. In fact, you will be surprised that Singapore, no matter how it runs, one in every seven Singaporeans have been victim to a cybercrime. And it’s the same here in the Philippines and the other, I was surprised, in other ASEAN states,’’ the DILG chief noted.
Without tackling Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) related issues, Remulla pointed out that the ASEAN collaboration discussed cybercrime and transnational crimes.
“The joint (ASEAN) statement is very general. It did not mention NVE in particular. But it did mention cybercrime and transnational crimes. What happened here in the Philippines was a combination of both. So, when you have a ministerial meeting like this, the language is left very broad and not very particular about these things. But in the spirit of the cooperation agreement, they are included,’’ Remulla explained.
NVE is a term used by law enforcement agencies that refer to extremism and violence lacking an ideological motivation and instead being motivated by a misanthropic or nihilistic worldview and generalized hatred for society.
When pressed if the ASEAN nations are concerned about the NVE threat, Remulla responded that “all states expressed (concern), and they are very aware.”
“We had bilateral meetings, and it was discussed extensively,’’ he added.
*‘Micro hubs’*
In the same press briefing, Remulla revealed that some dismissed police and military officers were allegedly linked to three active “micro scam hubs” in Metro Manila that are being tracked by the authorities.
He said the operations use micro hubs, or small houses where 10 to 20 people stay in each house. He described the setup as a new trend in scamming operations.
He cited the Oct. 2 raid on a suspected scam hub in Zamboanga Sibugay, which authorities described as the largest raid on a Philippine offshore gaming operator since the nationwide ban on the industry two years ago.
The operation led to the arrest and rescue of 244 foreign nationals, mostly Chinese.
“It’s not like before. Before, what we had here had 5,000 people in one building. Now they rent small houses. We are going after them one-by-one,” Remulla said.
When asked if the operators of these hubs were foreigners, Remulla noted that foreigners cannot operate in the country without Filipino partners.
He, however, declined to provide details regarding the dismissed police officers and military personnel allegedly involved
He also did not provide the number of individuals involved in the operations, adding that they will provide further information once they complete the investigation.
