MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / May 13, 2014) – President Benigno Aquino graced the opening Tuesday of the 34th ASEAN Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Manila.
The Philippine National Police hosted the conference participated by the Royal Brunei Police Force, Cambodian National Police Force, Indonesian National Police, Myanmar Police Force, Singapore Police Force, Socialist Republic of Vietnam Police, Royal Thai Police, Royal Malaysia Police, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic Police Force.
The conference also drew observers from the ASEAN Secretariat, ICPO-Interpol, Australian Federal Police, National Police Agency of Japan, New Zealand Police, Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, and the National Police Agency of the Republic of Korea, and Timor Leste.
“We meet today with the full knowledge that wrongdoing is not limited to single countries or particular regions. Transnational crime crosses beyond borders. Criminals often attempt to evade justice by crossing borders, thereby stretching the capacities of our respective police forces, often times, challenging the existing laws of each country in the region. This is one of the primary reasons why we are gathered here. Our goal – to make sure that such criminals are brought to justice in the swiftest and most efficient manner possible; and to allow all the peoples of Southeast Asia to go about their lives with peace of mind, knowing that they are protected by their respective governments,” Aquino said in his speech.
Police Director General Alan Purisima and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas led the conference.
The Philippines is a founding member of the ASEANAPOL which held its first conference in Manila in 1981 and has been holding annual conferences since hosted by member-agencies. The PNP last hosted the 23rd ASEANAPOL conference in Manila in September 2003.
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