BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III urged the police heads of various Southeast Asian countries to ensure that organized criminal groups are brought to justice.
Some 250 police delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are attending the five-day 34th ASEAN Chiefs of Police Conference that opened at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City yesterday.
“Transnational crime crosses borders. Criminals often attempt to evade justice by crossing boarders, thereby stretching the capacities of our respective police forces, oftentimes challenging the existing laws of each country in the region,” said Aquino.
In his keynote address, the President said criminal offenders must be immediately prosecuted and punished in the “most efficient manner” to give people “peace of mind.”
He likewise encouraged police leaders to “listen” and “be open to the ideas of your counterparts” towards the elimination of crimes.
“Let us share best practices with one another. Let us bring our security agreements to fruition by optimizing the synergies between our countries acting as one voice along the spirit of ASEAN platform,” Aquino suggested./PN
