Necessity of a Comprehensive and Coordinated Approach
- Previous establishment of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) to coordinate anti-transnational crime efforts.
- Recognition that combating transnational crime requires a high-level, coordinated, and synchronized government policy.
- Call for an oversight body to link local, national, regional, and international agencies for coherent action.
- Presidential authority to reorganize administrative structures provides the legal basis for the order.
Section 1: Governing Principles
- Comprehensive scope covering money laundering, trafficking, piracy, arms trade, drugs, cybercrime, intellectual property violations, smuggling, and other crimes affecting national stability.
- Strict adherence to the rule of law, ensuring fair enforcement and respect for constitutional rights.
- Systematic coordination and consultation among various government agencies with distinct mandates related to transnational crime.
- Active community participation to empower grassroots information sharing and support anti-crime advocacy.
- Strong pursuit of regional and international cooperation aligning national programs with treaties and agreements.
Section 2: Program Components
- Strengthening information and intelligence gathering through a centralized database on laws, groups, and case files related to transnational crime.
- Conducting strategic research focusing on the structure, dynamics, and vulnerabilities regarding transnational crime to improve strategies and policies.
- Intensifying law enforcement to develop synergistic plans among agencies tackling both supply and demand aspects of crime.
- Capacity-building initiatives to train and empower law enforcement, local governments, NGOs, civil society, and communities.
- Reinforcing regional and international cooperation through technical assistance, information exchange, participation in forums, and forging agreements.
Section 3: Institutional Mechanism
- Leadership vested in the President, who actively leads the transnational crime campaign.
- Creation of the Special Envoy on Transnational Crime (SETC), appointed by the President with ambassadorial rank, responsible for policy direction, advising the President, representing the Philippines internationally, and coordinating inter-agency efforts.
- Continued operation of existing Transnational Crime Councils and Boards (e.g., Anti-Money Laundering Council, Dangerous Drugs Board) to focus on specific crimes while aligning efforts with the SETC.
- The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) to serve as the technical, operational, and administrative secretariat to the SETC, led by an Executive Director.
Section 4: Funding
- SETC’s budget sourced from available government funds identified by the Secretary of Budget and Management.
- Annual appropriations for the SETC and PCTC to be included in the Office of the President’s budget proposals.
Section 5: Agency Support
- SETC authorized to demand active cooperation and assistance from all government departments, agencies, instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations.
- This authority extends to all councils and boards dealing with transnational crime.
Section 6: Repeal
- All previous orders, rules, regulations, or parts inconsistent with this Executive Order are repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 7: Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon signing on January 23, 2004, in Manila, with the signature of the President and the Executive Secretary.