Policy, purpose, and core design
- Section 1 establishes the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) under the Office of the President to formulate and implement a concerted program of action of government agencies for the prevention and control of transnational crime.
- Executive Order No. 62 is designed to address the growing sophistication of transnational crime through a concerted, synchronized, and focused effort from law enforcement, intelligence, and other concerned agencies.
- Section 8 directs strong and intensified focus against organized transnational crime as part of the government’s anti-crime campaign.
- Section 8 recognizes the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the primary general law enforcement agency pursuant to Republic Act No. 6975, as amended, while requiring coordination to achieve synergy.
Organizational structure and leadership
- Section 1 places the PCTC under the general supervision and control of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
- Section 2 provides that the PCTC is headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the President.
- Section 2 creates the following directorates within the PCTC:
- Directorate for Operations
- Directorate for Plans and Programs
- Directorate for Research
- Directorate for Technology Management
- Directorate for Administration and Finance
- Section 2 allows the creation of other directorates as the situation demands.
Coverage of transnational crimes
- Section 4 authorizes the PCTC to take cognizance of the following transnational crimes:
- illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
- money laundering
- terrorism
- arms smuggling
- trafficking in persons
- piracy
- other crimes that have an impact on the stability and security of the country
- Section 3 empowers the PCTC to address these crimes through database-building, strategic research, capacity-building, information exchanges, and operational supervision of anti-transnational crime efforts.
Powers and functions of the PCTC
- Section 3(1) authorizes the PCTC, through modern information and telecommunications technology, to establish a shared central database among government agencies covering:
- methodologies, arrests, and convictions on transnational crimes, including illicit trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, arms smuggling, trafficking in persons, piracy, and other impactful crimes.
- Section 3(2) empowers the PCTC to supervise and control the conduct of anti-transnational crime operations of all government agencies and instrumentalities.
- Section 3(3) authorizes the PCTC to establish a central database on national and international legislation and jurisprudence on transnational crime, to recommend measures that strengthen responses and provide immediate intervention for prevention, detection, and apprehension.
- Section 3(4) authorizes the PCTC to establish a center for strategic research on the structure and dynamics of transnational organized crime in all its forms, including:
- predicting trends and analyzing relationships of given factors,
- formulating individual and collective strategies for prevention and detection, and
- supporting the apprehension of criminal elements.
- Section 3(5) empowers the PCTC to design programs and projects to enhance national capacity-building in combating transnational crime and to support related programs and projects of ASEAN and international centers.
- Section 3(6) empowers the PCTC to explore and coordinate information exchanges and training with other government agencies, foreign countries, and international organizations involved in combating transnational crime.
- Section 3(7) authorizes the PCTC to select personnel from within the NAPOLCOM, PNP, and other government agencies for detail with the PCTC.
- Section 3(8) authorizes the PCTC to enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and to use their respective personnel, facilities, and resources to carry out its functions.
- Section 3(9) empowers the PCTC to perform functions and carry out activities directed by the President.
Government assistance and coordination duties
- Section 5 provides that the PCTC is assisted by specified government agencies and instrumentalities, including:
- PNP, NBI, NACAHT, PAOCTF, PASTF, NAPOLCOM, DILG, DOJ, DOF, 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), AFP, Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and National Statistics and Census Office (NSCO).
- Section 5 further authorizes the PCTC’s assistance from other government agencies the PCTC finds necessary to implement its mandate.
- Section 6 assigns command and control so that:
- the Executive Director reports and is responsible to the President through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government,
- the Executive Director has immediate supervision and control over all PCTC units and is authorized to designate duties and functions of all units and personnel,
- the Executive Director has direct operational and supervisory authority over personnel and resources detailed with the PCTC from concerned government agencies.
- Section 8 requires close coordination and cooperation among:
- the Executive Director of the PCTC,
- the Chief, PNP, and
- heads of other concerned government agencies,
to ensure synergy in the overall anti-transnational crime campaign.
- Section 8 enjoins vertical and lateral coordination among operating units consistent with security needs to prevent compromise in police operations.
Funding and budget incorporation
- Section 9 directs that the PCTC shall be provided with an initial annual allocation of ONE HUNDRED MILLION PESOS (P100,000,000.00) for CY 1999.
- Section 9 requires that the initial allocation be drawn from the President’s Contingency Fund and from government savings.
- Section 9 provides that appropriations for succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposal of the Office of the President.
- Section 9 makes funding subject to government accounting and auditing procedures.
Implementing guidelines and reporting
- Section 7 requires the PCTC to adopt, in coordination with other concerned agencies, operating guidelines necessary to implement Executive Order No. 62, subject to the approval of the President.
- Section 7 requires the PCTC to submit to the President reports of its activities with appropriate recommendations for the information and consideration of the President.
Repeal, separability, and transitory rules
- Executive Order No. 62 contains no separability, repealing, or sunset clause provisions.