PNP News Releases 2005

RP & INDON POLICE FORGE AGREEMENT FOR JOINT COOPERATION vs CRIME, TERRORISM

The Philippine National Police and the Indonesian National Police (INP) will formalized today a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime.

PNP Chief Director General Arturo C Lomibao and newly appointed INP Chief, Police General Sutanto signed the accord during the closing ceremony of the two-day Multilateral Meeting of Chiefs of ASEAN Police and Heads of Counter-Terrorism of all ASEAN Countries in Jakarta .

The Memorandum of Understanding between the PNP and INP seeks to expand the forms of cooperation between the two police agencies thru intelligence exchange, undertaking of coordinated police activities, capacity building, and establishment of a joint committee against transnational crime.

Lomibao said the agreement is expected to enhance the level of partnership and cooperation between the two police agencies in fighting transnational crime and terrorism.

“This MoU is very significant because this is the first time in ASEAN history that we are moving forcefully to address the increasing threat of transnational crimes,” Lomibao said.

“We must move forcefully to prevent terrorists from slipping past our common borders to inflict death and destruction on civilians and create political instability and economic uncertainty in the region,” he said.

The MoU was drafted by a joint Technical Working Group on the initiative of the PNP, after a series of meetings and consultations with their Indonesian counterparts.

Following Indonesia 's hosting of the 25 th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference in Bali last May 2005, the PNP proposed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Indonesia which was responded to by the Indonesian National Police with a counter-proposal for an MoU to be drafted by a joint Technical Working Group.