CREATION OF TASK FORCE. Members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of the Western Visayas Interagency Interdiction Task Force to keep tight watch on ports and seaports against entry of illegal drugs, human trafficking and illegal recruitment on Thursday (Feb. 21, 2019). (Photo by Leonora Estanque)
ILOILO CITY -- Members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) on Thursday inked an agreement to strengthen efforts to address the proliferation of illegal drugs, human trafficking and illegal recruitment in various airports and seaports of Western Visayas.
“The MOU (memorandum of understanding) will govern the task force on the roles of the different government agencies when it comes to drugs, human trafficking and illegal recruitment. The PNP (Philippine National Police) cannot do this alone. We need the help of other government agencies,” said Supt. Joem Malong, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) in an interview after the signing of the agreement for the Western Visayas Interagency Interdiction Task Force (WV-IAITF).
She cited that the RLECC has identified problems thus they came up with an idea to form the task force and make it easier for agencies to implement their programs and activities.
“There are matters that the PNP cannot handle. Like we have no proper authority on our airports and seaports and this task force will enable us to have faster coordination and action,” she added.
She also said that this interagency interdiction task force will be useful because Western Visayas is surrounded by shorelines making it vulnerable to the entry point for illegal drugs, human trafficking and illegal recruitment.
“Coastal areas and RORO (roll on roll off) ports are considered to be the vulnerable areas. They are the fastest way that can be used for illegal drugs, human trafficking and illegal recruitment. We will strengthen our coordination in these areas,” she added.
When it comes to human trafficking, the PNP does not have personal knowledge about the acts, the means and the exploitative purposes of the traffickers so it is hard for them to detect those people doing the illegal businesses.
The task force will also enable an easier validation for the PNP when it comes to the movement and profiling of the illegal traffickers in the airports and seaports.
RLECC is composed of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, Bureau of Customs, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Interior and Local Government, Civil Defense, Department of Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, and Armed Forces of the Philippines. (PNA)
