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Azurin says posting of permanent police attaches in ME in the works

February 16, 2023 Alfred P. Dalizon 305 views

POSTING permanent Police Attaches in the Middle East is in the works as the Philippine National Police (PNP) goes global in its mission to fight criminals using modern technology including online scammers and modern-day slavery rings, according to PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

The top cop revealed this when he presented the situation of Trafficking in Persons and Human Smuggling in the Philippines during the 24th Interpol Regional Conference in Abu Dhabi.

He told his counterparts about the PNP’s plan to post permanent Police Attaches in UAE as the Marcos Jr. government pursues its comprehensive, integrated program to address conflict and security against global security threats.

Gen. Azurin said it is but timely to streamline the government’s intelligence-driven strategies in support of its mission, operational works, functions, and commitment to regional and international law enforcement cooperation.

“Our focus is on expanding efforts to address transnational crimes by improving coordination and communication with the international intelligence community. By considering internal security concerns globally, we can better respond to and prevent transnational crimes that may impact the country,” he explained.

He also stated that by working with foreign law enforcement agencies, police attaches can help to disrupt illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and cybercrime activities that may affect both countries, and ensure that the welfare of our Filipino citizens is a priority and that adequate measures are in place to address any security or welfare concerns.

The top cop also assured Filipinos living or working in the UAE of ongoing police efforts to ensure their protection especially against human trafficking syndicates.

The top cop gave the assurance as he met with Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Amb. Alfonso Ver to foster better cooperation and coordination between the Abu Dhabi-based embassy and the PNP national headquarters in ensuring the safety and well-being of Filipinos in the UAE.

The meeting saw Ambassador Ver and a top-level PNP delegation headed by Gen. Azurin discussing measures to protect the rights of Filipinos working in the UAE, addressing crimes such trafficking in person, human smuggling and other safety concerns affecting the Filipino community and improving emergency response and support systems for Filipinos in need.

The Philippines is the lead shepherd in the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting in Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Trafficking in Persons which is the permanent mechanism for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, especially Women, and Children (ACTIP).

Participants in the Interpol conference also discussed matters on operational cooperation, enhancing policing capabilities, and priority crime areas with a focus on trafficking in drugs and countering terrorism along with an assessment of the state of police cooperation and international efforts against cross-border crimes.

Gen. Azurin has cited the country’s gains in its serious campaign against human trafficking which has earned the nod of the international community.

According to the PNP chief, the Philippines fully meets, if not exceeded, the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and that the country demonstrates a serious and sustained effort during the reporting period.

“For seven consecutive years, the Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 status in the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. The State Department recognized Manila’s assistance to a total of 6,772 potential trafficking victims and around 1,143 Filipino trafficking survivors from the Middle East and Asia,” Gen. Azurin said.

“It lauded the country’s efforts to convict and punish traffickers and the increased use of prosecution procedures, reducing further harm to the victims,” he added.

Citing a report from the PNP Women and Children Protection Center, the PNP chief said that with an estimated 10 million Filipinos working overseas in nearly 170 countries, approximately 3 percent work without a contract.

He agreed that The Philippines is among the source-countries of citizens falling prey to human trafficking with cases of labor trafficking prevalent in countries in the Middle East, such as household or construction workers.

Cases of OFWs being killed or sexually abused by their employers in some Middle East countries is not a rarity, the latest of them involving 35-year old Jullebee Ranara who was raped and impregnated by the 17-year old son of her employer before being ran over by the suspect’s car twice and burnt and left for dead in the desert.

To curb these crimes, Gen. Azurin emphasized the strengthened collaboration of the PNP- WCPC with other government agencies through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) which serves as the coordinating and monitoring mechanism for all anti-human trafficking efforts of the government.

Also, he said that the government through the IACAT mobilized the Overseas Filipino Workers or OFW Task Force.

He added that the PNP has also forged a partnership with the Anti-Money Laundering Council and other private financial institutions, both local and abroad, to help track suspicious transactions between foreign or local individuals believed to be involved in purchasing or soliciting child abuse materials.

“Over the past years, the synergies of the international community have achieved remarkable results which the Philippines will continue to support to fully address the crimes that transcend national boundaries,” Gen. Azurin said.

The president of Interpol, Mr. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi commended the PNP for its efforts in human trafficking and migrant smuggling as he encouraged other Interpol member-countries to imitate the initiatives of the Philippines.

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