Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 265)
The Philippines signed the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime on December 14, 2000, and ratified it on May 28, 2002.
Key principles include a comprehensive approach covering various crimes, adherence to the rule of law, coordination among government agencies, community participation, and pursuit of mutual assistance and cooperation among regional and international partners.
Crimes include money laundering and other financial crimes, trafficking in persons, piracy and armed robbery against ships, illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, illegal trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances, fraud, cyberspace crime, intellectual property rights violations, smuggling, and other crimes affecting national stability and security.
The SETC is mandated to set policy directions and program design standards, advise the President on matters regarding transnational crime, represent the Philippine government in international forums, coordinate government efforts, and has the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
The database includes national and international laws, case files, profiles of groups involved in transnational crime, and related information to help prevent, detect, apprehend, and prosecute transnational crime effectively.
The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) provides such support and is headed by an Executive Director.
Their budget shall come from available funds identified by the Secretary of Budget and Management and be included in the Office of the President's budget proposal.
The SETC is authorized to call on all government departments, agencies, including government-owned corporations, to assist actively, and councils or boards dealing with specific transnational crimes must work closely with the SETC to harmonize efforts.
They are repealed or modified accordingly to ensure conformity with the provisions of Executive Order No. 265.