Pubdate: Sun, 07 Sep 2003 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 Authors: Roy C. Sinfuego & Aris R. Ilagan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines ASEAN CHIEFS OF NAT'L POLICE MEET ON TERRORISM, DRUGS, THIS WEEK AT MANILA HOTEL Officials and members of the ASEAN Chiefs of National Police (ASEANAPOL) will hold its 23rd annual conference to tackle terrorism, drugs, and other crimes this week at the Manila Hotel with the Philippine National Police (PNP) as this year's host. PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. will lead the 11-man delegation of the Philippines that will discuss various international issues on law enforcement cooperation with counterpart officials from nine other ASEAN countries. "The PNP takes pride in hosting this year's summit of heads of police agencies from different countries in the Southeast Asian region. We are certain that this conference will yield fruitful results to further enhance international cooperation," said Ebdane. The opening ceremony and first plenary session will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. as guest of honor and speaker. Heads of delegations at the conference are: Deputy Commissioner PG Ahmad HJ Damit of the Royal Brunei Police Force; Police Lieutenant General Mao Chandara of the Cambodian National Police; Police General Dors. Da'l Bachtiar of the Indonesian National Police; Police Colonel Khampha Sengdara of the Lao People's Democratic Republic General Department Police; Deputy Inspector General Dato' Seri Mohd Bakri B. HJ Omar of the Royal Malaysia Police; Brig. Gen. Khin Yi of the Mayanmar Police Force; Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui of the Singapore Police Force; Police Genera Tawatchai Pailee of the Royal Thail Police; and Police Major General Pham Van Duc of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Attending the conference as guest observers are Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta, ASEAN deputy secretary general; Nurchaida Andi Rita, ASEAN secretariat; Police Colonel Panaspong Sarawongse of the International Criminal Police Organization (Intepol); Peter Vowe, Interpol Regional Police Service director; Geoff Eyles, Interpol Crime intelligence officer; Commissioner Michael Joseph Keelty of the Australian Federal Police; Federal Agent Brian McDonald of the AFP-Manila police liaison officer; Federal Agent Courtney Christie, Austrial Federal Police observer; Commissioner Rob Robinson of the New Zealand Police; Supt. Stuart Wildon, NZP staff officer; and Supt. Hamish McCarle of the NZP. Among the vital points included in the agenda of the three-day conference are the prevailing security issues on terrorism, illegal drugs and commercial crimes. Others specific matters to be discussed in meeting are mutual assistance on criminal matters, the Aseanapol electronic database, bank offenses, fraudulent travel documents, and cross-training arrangements. The heads of delegation are expected to issue a Joint Communique at the culmination of the conference which will be the highlight of the three-day meeting. It is the fourth time for the Philippines to host the annual Aseanapol conference since its founding and first conference in Manila in 1981. It is the fourth time for the Philippines to host the annual Aseanapol conference since its founding and first conference in Manila in 1981. The 22rd ASEANAPOLl Conference was held last year in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. The head of the Philippine delegation was then PNP chief Director General Leandro R. Mendoza, now secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC). Velasco Deputy Director General Reynaldo V. Velasco, chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), yesterday assured that necessary security preparations are now in place for the 23rd ASEANAPOL conference among nine Southeast Asian police chiefs and their staffs. Velasco directed the five Metro police directors to draw a contingency plan, which should contain the preemptive and preventive measures to ensure the safety of the delegates. The top police officers and delegates would come from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam. "The 23rd ASEANAPOL conference is very timely in view of the local and global threat of terrorism and will be a big boost in a collective action against terrorism and other transnational crimes," Velasco said. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that the recent Southeast Asian's successes in the global war on terrorism could lead to "acts of desperation" as she urged neighbors to keep up their guard. The 23rd ASEANAPOL conference was originally scheduled last May but was postponed due to different problems that hit the member countries including the worldwide crisis brought by the dreaded Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus. The ASEANAPOL conference is expected to enhance the security preparations of each member countries through the exchange of information and ultimately a unified action plan on how to fight terrorism in Asia. "With the summit, the nine Southeast Asian police chiefs will be able to draw up measures to effectively thwart any move to carry out terroristic attacks in their respective countries," Velasco said. The ASEANAPOL conference is expected to come up with possible action against terrorism and improving further intelligence sharing. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin