Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 62)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 62 is to create the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) to formulate and implement a concerted program of action among all law enforcement, intelligence, and other government agencies for the prevention and control of transnational crime.
The PCTC is created under the Office of the President and placed under the general supervision and control of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
The Executive Director of the PCTC is appointed by the President of the Philippines.
The PCTC shall have the following directorates: Directorate for Operations; Directorate for Plans and Programs; Directorate for Research; Directorate for Technology Management; Directorate for Administration and Finance; and other directorates that may be created as the situation demands.
The PCTC shall take cognizance of the following transnational crimes: illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; money laundering; terrorism; arms smuggling; trafficking in persons; piracy; and other crimes that impact the stability and security of the country.
The PCTC has powers including establishing a shared central database among government agencies, supervising anti-transnational crime operations, establishing databases on legislation and jurisprudence, conducting strategic research, designing capacity-building programs, coordinating information exchanges and trainings, selecting personnel from other agencies, enlisting assistance from government entities, and performing functions directed by the President.
Agencies assisting the PCTC include the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), National Action Committee on Anti-Hijacking and Anti-Terrorism (NACAHT), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force (PASTF), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), National Prosecution Service (NPS), Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB), Bureau of Customs (BOC), National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other government agencies as deemed necessary.
The PCTC Executive Director reports to the President through the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, has immediate supervision and control over all units and personnel of the PCTC, and has direct operational and supervisory authority over personnel and resources detailed from government agencies concerned.
The PCTC is initially allocated One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) for the year 1999, drawn from the President's Contingency Fund and government savings. Future appropriations are to be incorporated in the Office of the President's budget proposal.
While the PCTC focuses on combating organized transnational crime, the PNP remains the primary general law enforcement agency in the country pursuant to Republic Act No. 6975, as amended. The Executive Director of the PCTC, the Chief of PNP, and other agency heads are to closely coordinate and cooperate for synergy in the anti-transnational crime campaign.