ASEANAPOL Executive Director Advocates Regional Collaboration Against Transnational Crime

On April 12, 2024, ASEANAPOL Secretariat Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan was featured in an interview on the Philippine National Police (PNP) - Police Community Relations multi-media program, titled "Sumbong N’yo Aksyon Agad" (Immediate Action to your Report). Managed by the Police Community Affairs and Development Group (PCADG), this program serves as the PNP's Complaint Referral and Monitoring Center, offering services for walk-in and online complaints from constituents within the archipelago and Filipino expatriates. The program was hosted by Police Colonel Gemma Cruz-Vinluan, Police Colonel Claire Cudal, Police Colonel Edwin Eliazar, and program manager Police Major Vivian Reyes.

During the interview, Executive Director Vinluan introduced ASEANAPOL, elaborating on its mission, vision, function, and the 10 core focus areas of transnational organized crime. He emphasized the numerous achievements of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat in collaboration with its Observers, Dialogue Partners, and like-minded allies in the first quarter of 2024.

Towards the conclusion of the interview, Executive Director Vinluan reiterated the importance of collaboration among all ASEANAPOL member countries and the utilization of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat as a platform for communication and cooperation to effectively combat transnational organized crime in the ASEAN region. He stressed the significance of strengthening partnerships, networking, and sharing information and best practices with regional counterparts to enhance member countries' capabilities in addressing various criminal activities and transnational organized crimes, such as cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and trafficking in persons.

Executive Director Vinluan underscored that active participation in ASEANAPOL Secretariat initiatives and training programs would enable member countries to access collective intelligence and resources for a more coordinated response to cross-border crime. He highlighted the imperative need for the activation of the 10-core transnational crime task forces by ASEANAPOL Member Countries, with support from all 10 Chiefs of ASEAN Police organizations, to operationalize the signed Joint Communiques and effectively strategize the fight against em erging threats of transnational organized crime. Executive Director Vinluan emphasized that this concerted effort is vital for enhancing regional security and countering the evolving challenges of transnational organized crime.

“Together We Keep This Region Safe”