TRANSNATIONAL CRIME (SEM-CDA)

Transnational crime is a threat to domestic and international interest and security which has to be addressed by individual states. The (PCTC) Philippine Center of Transnational Crime enumerated their six major concerns on the elements of the transnational crimes namely; illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, money laundering, terrorism, arms smuggling, trafficking in persons and piracy. The kidnapping of local and foreign nationals by members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sipadan, an island resort of Malaysia and a cyber crime involving the spread of a love bug virus that crippled computer softwares worldwide are clear examples of recent crimes falling under this category. The trafficking of Filipino nationals to Italy using Hungary and other countries as transit points and the smuggling of illegal drugs from Mainland China to our shores are some of the frequent transnational crime incidence encountered by Philippine authorities.

The objective of all law enforcement, both domestic and international, is to help maintain the viability of those institutions of state that collectively express the character of a country and embody the commitment of the citizenry to that country. Although clearly open to variation in emphasis and form from state to state, the core principles of the security of nations are; preserving sovereign control over the direction and function of social, political, and economic systems; preserving the interests of their citizenry and maintaining an interest in the stability and functionality of neighbors and affiliated nations. All countries are, at various times and for a range of crimes, both victim and host. Apportioning blame to individual states neither cures crime nor prevents it recurring. It merely serves to marginalize those so labeled, and reduces the likelihood of interventions by those and other states.

One of the responses of the Philippines to this problem is stated in the Executive Order No. 100 s1999 which was signed by President Estrada empowering the PCTC to exercise and control over the “Loop Center of the National Action Committee on Anti-Hijacking and Terrorism (NACAHT), International Criminal Police Organization ICPO-INTERPOL NCB-Manila, Police Attachés of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Political Attachés/ Counselors for Security Matters of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)” (PCTC, 2008)

The most significant threats to regional security and stability are the developing sophistication and globalization of organized crime groups, which are likely to increase their cooperation in areas of mutual interest; all forms of fraud, money laundering, cyber crime, and corruption, which will continue to have a significant impact on regional economies; the increase and diversification in regional drug production, abuse and trafficking; and the likelihood that insurgency groups in the region are likely to become more dependent on crime- particularly drug production and trafficking - to finance their political campaigns.