By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday committed to further intensify intelligence-driven operations and cross-border coordination to disrupt criminal networks that exploit digital platforms and international borders to expand their activities.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. made the remarks as he vowed to translate the commitments made during the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) into concrete enforcement measures targeting human trafficking, cybercrime, illegal drug trafficking, money laundering and illicit arms smuggling.
“The commitments made at the AMMTC will be translated into intensified intelligence-sharing, coordinated operations, and stronger enforcement against trafficking, cybercrime, illegal drugs, and other transnational threats. Our focus is to ensure that regional agreements produce measurable results on the ground and greater security for our communities,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The Philippines is hosting the AMMTC and related meetings from Oct. 19 to 21 as this year’s ASEAN chair. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Remulla led discussions with ASEAN interior and security ministers on strengthening regional responses to cross-border criminal activities.
The meetings also included consultations with China, Japan and South Korea on efforts to combat online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, particularly through digital platforms and artificial intelligence, as well as cooperation in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
Nartatez stressed that the PNP must keep pace with criminal groups that increasingly use technology and operate across jurisdictions.
“Criminal networks are evolving rapidly, and the PNP must evolve faster. We are strengthening our digital investigative capabilities, enhancing intelligence fusion, and investing in technology and specialized training to ensure we remain ahead of organized transnational crime groups,” he said.
The PNP chief further underscored the importance of timely intelligence exchange among ASEAN police forces, noting that suspects can evade arrest by moving between countries and exploiting gaps in law enforcement coordination.
“Intelligence-sharing is one of our strongest weapons against transnational crime because criminals do not recognize borders. Real-time information exchange among ASEAN law enforcement agencies allows us to identify threats early, track fugitives more effectively, and dismantle criminal networks before they can expand,” Nartatez said.
