DOJ opposes PH withdrawing from Interpol: It would be a very big loss

DOJ spokesperson and Justice
Assistant Secretary Jose
Dominic Clavano IV
INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday opposed calls of withdrawing from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), stating that such a move would be a “big loss” to the country.

According to DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano, the Interpol allows the country to address different transnational crimes which have become increasingly prevalent globally.

“Malaking-malaking mawawala sa atin kung umalis tayo sa Interpol,” Clavano said in a chance interview.

(It would be a very big loss if we left the Interpoll.)

“Dahil ang trend ngayon sa buong mundo ay transnational organized crime. Kumbaga, ‘yung mga kriminal, lilipat ng ibang bansa, hindi na natin makukuha ‘yung mga ‘yun,” he added.

(Because the trend today around the world is transnational organized crime. So, the criminals will move to other countries, we won’t be able to catch them anymore.)

The Interpol, said Clavano, tackles cases like money-laundering, scamming and even the illegal operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.

“Kaya kung umalis tayo sa Interpol bilang miyembro, talagang ang laki ng mawawala sa bansa natin,” he added.

(So if we leave Interpol as a member, it would really be a big loss to the country.)

In the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Clavano even attributed the arrests of dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. to the Interpol as it aids the country when dealing with difficult transnational organized crime.

“Kaya po natin nakuha si Alice Guo from Indonesia, kaya natin napadetain si former Congressman Arnie Teves from Timor Leste dahil sa paggamit natin dito sa Interpol,” Clavano added.

(That’s why we got Alice Guo from Indonesia, that’s why we arrested former Congressman Arnie Teves in Timor Leste because of our use of Interpol.)

Calls of withdrawing from the Interpol floated after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ: EXPLAINER: What’s next after arrest of Rodrigo Duterte?

Despite the country no longer being a part of the Rome Statute, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government cooperated with the enforcement of the ICC’s arrest warrant due to its commitments with the Interpol, the body enforcing the warrant. with reports from Keith Irish Margareth Clores, INQUIRER.net trainee