MANILA, Philippines – The 34th ASEAN Association of Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) Conference was not limited to discussions among Southeast Asian countries.

In a May 15 press release, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Russian Federation said that during the conference they explored the possibility of an “expanded agreement” to address transnational crime.

In a May 13 meeting, Police Colonel General Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Russia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, said Russia wanted to “cooperate more extensively” with ASEANAPOL members and dialogue partners.

In a statement, the PNP said it was working on a Memorandum of Understanding that would lay out the framework for Russia and the Philippines’ deal. One of Russia’s concerns: human trafficking.

Recently, the PNP rescued Russian women working in an adult entertainment bar in the Philippines. “Russia has been one of the entry points of trafficking-in-persons victims in the Philippines and other Asian countries,” said the PNP. 

Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs explored the possibility of inviting exchange students from the Philippines to undergo peacekeeping training to curb threats by terrorist organizations and international crime syndicates involved in human trafficking.

Russia, which attended the ASEANAPOL conference in Manila as an observer, is set to become a dialogue member during the 2015 ASEANAPOL conference in Indonesia.

The chiefs of police also urged member countries to send staff officers to the International Criminal Police Organization Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore and the Interpol Liaison Office in Bangkok.

ASEANAPOL, China partnerships

In its joint communiqué, ASEANAPOL members also announced the group’s intention to “adopt” a proposal by its Secretariat to “establish a liaison” with China on “the agreed plan of action based on the consensus of all ASEANAPOL members.”

China’s representative, however, was not present during the closing of the conference. In an interview with reporters, PNP Public Information Office head Chief Superintendent Theodore Sindac explained that the Chinese delegation had to leave by Wednesday, May 14, to attend matters back in China.

“It was a scheduled trip back,” added Sindac, adding he was not privy to which discussions China was part of during the conference.

The 34th ASEANAPOL Conference comes weeks after two Southeast Asian countries were at odds with China over maritime issues. The Philippines arrested and charged several Chinese nationals after they were caught in possession of more than 500 dead and alive turtles at Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half-moon Shoal), located about 60 nautical miles off Palawan, well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Vietnam, meanwhile, sounded alarm after Chinese ships protecting a deep-water drilling in disputed waters allegedly used water cannons to attack Vietnamese patrol vessels, injuring 6.

Wildlife crime will be one of the issues covered by the next ASEANAPOL conference in Indonesia, PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima said at the end of the conference. – Rappler.com