FOREWORD

The threat posed by transnational organized crimes to the security and well-being of every nation has gained wide recognition in the recent years. The terrorist attack of the World Trade Center in New York last September 11, 2001 demonstrated to the world how transnational organized crime groups could bring ruin to the world order. This appalling event, which significantly changed the international security architecture, has paved the way for us to rethink and consolidate our efforts in addressing the challenges posed by transnational crimes.

The creation of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, specifically tasked to address transnational crimes, demonstrates the Philippine government’s sincere effort to protect the security and well-being of the Filipino nation, as well as to contribute to the global effort to solve transnational crimes.

In line with its mandate to establish a shared central database pertaining to transnational crimes among government agencies, the PCTC is currently undertaking rigorous study of the latest trends on transnational crimes. As a preparatory activities to the holding of the first National Conference on Transnational Crime, the PCTC conducted a research on six transnational crimes, i.e. terrorism, human trafficking, piracy on the high seas and armed robbery against ships, drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms trafficking and a series of workshops to thresh out important issues pertaining to each transnational crime. This study provides a historical background, definition of terms, basic features and trends, challenges confronting nation-states, and national, regional, and international efforts to confront the transnational crimes. It also contains sections on legal frameworks, like treaties connections and agreements in all three levels, i.e. national, regional, and international.

This study points to some interesting facts. While historical records demonstrate that most of the transnational crimes had been with us for ages, it is quite surprising to note that it is only after September 11, 2001 that serious concerted efforts to address the threats of transnational organized crime began to be initiated.

In accordance with its mandate to supervise and control the conduct of anti-transnational crimes operations of all government agencies, the PCTC conducted the National Conference on Transnational Crime on February 7-8, 2002. The conference was conducted to generate inputs for the crafting a national plan of action against transnational crimes. The plan of action contained in this compilation was a result of the research, workshops, and the conference which were conducted by the PCTC. While the national plan of action for each TNC still needs further validation and approval of concerned agencies, the crafting of the proposed plan of actions is already a significant step towards a more integrated and cost-effective approach of addressing threats of the TNC’s. While the PCTC is yet to be institutionalized through legislation, it will continue to live with its assigned mandates.

Clyde Lopez Fernandez

Police Deputy Director General

Executive Director, PCTC