PNP chief leads delegation to Interpol summit in India
A SIX-man Philippine National Police (PNP) delegation headed by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. is now in India, attending the 90th General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL).
On Tuesday, India Prime Minister Nwarendra Modi formally opened the general assembly in a ceremony in New Delhi where the importance of global partnership in addressing threats brought about by transnational crimes like drugs, human trafficking, and terrorism is being discussed.
Apart from the PNP delegation and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC), which is Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila, others attending the Indian summit are senior law enforcement officials from 160 INTERPOL-member countries.
The PCTC is represented by its Executive Director, Undersecretary Alfred S. Corpus. On the other hand, Gen. Azurin has been joined by PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr.; PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, Maj. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz; and PNP Director for Plans, Brigadier Gen. Bernard M. Banac.
The Philippine delegation is being assisted by the Third Secretary and Vice Consul Mark Articulo of the Philippine Embassy in India.
Being discussed in the assembly are the future of policing, policing initiatives on financial crime, anti-corruption, cybercrime, crimes against children, and DNA database of missing persons, as well as the Interpol Global Crime Trends Report and Executive Committee Elections.
The Philippine delegation will present a country paper in one of the workshop committee meetings highlighting the recent developments in the PNP campaign against illegal drugs, cybercrime, IPR violations, transnational crime, and Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
“As the world’s largest policing organization, it is the job of Interpol to make sure that all countries are supported. Partnership and information sharing help us to better tackle and prevent crimes,” said Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi.
The official added that Interpol’s databases are “the foundation that supports our work, and every country’s contribution is vital.”
The 90th General Assembly comes as a prelude to the 100th founding anniversary of Interpol. The assembly will conclude on October 20.
