PNP, Interpol ties made stronger

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Nicanor Bartolome met recently with Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble in Lyon, France, to discuss increased cooperation between the Philippines and the world police organization in combating a range of transnational crimes.

Bartolome, also head of Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila, updated the Interpol chief on plans to expand the PNP’s access to the latter’s secure global police communications system I-24/7 and its newly established office for counterterrorism.

Discussions also included the Philippines’ recent participation in the International Fugitive Round-Up and Arrest–South East Asia that was held in Bangkok, Thailand, which focused on sharing information relating to 60 suspects from 21 countries wanted in connection with child sex offenses.

“Cooperation with Interpol is a priority area for police in the Philippines. My meeting with Secretary General Noble provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the need for international cooperation with Interpol,” Bartolome said in a statement.

He said the meeting also helped to “identify areas such as terrorism, counterfeit medicines and fugitive investigation where we can collaborate even more closely.”