Law enforcement leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three neighboring states on Wednesday agreed to share information to combat the operations of scam hubs, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said.
Following the 20th ASEAN Plus 3 (Japan, China, and South Korea) Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, Remulla also disclosed that efforts are underway to dismantle three scam hubs in Metro Manila.
“It’s a regional concern which everyone shared into the joint declaration,” Remulla said, adding they discussed how to enhance collaboration in addressing the challenge.
“What is fantastic about these meetings is when the ministers meet and agree to meet more and share more information after,” Remulla also said.
Remulla said that while law enforcement leaders agreed to share information, specific law enforcement operations will have to be conducted by the concerned state.
“We share information but as far as law enforcement is concerned that is a local matter. So what is important is the intelligence sharing and I give credit to all the ASEAN nations for being very active in that area,” Remulla also said.
A number of scam hubs, operated by Chinese nationals, have been dismantled by law enforcement authorities across the country in the past several years.
Asked if China made recommendations to address the scam hub problem, Remulla said: “China did not particularly address this issue. They did mention, though, transnational crimes as a pressing issue of theirs.”
Remulla stressed that the concern is not exclusive to the Philippines, noting that other countries as far as Europe are also confronting the concern.
“Collectively, we have discussed it. But locally, we are acting on it individually, but sharing information with other countries,” the DILG chief added.
Remulla reiterated that scam hubs are operating in small groups since the government banned the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) a few years ago.
“Now they are micro grids. They are evading the law not like before, they were wantonly operating. They cannot operate in large scale (now) because they are easier to find,” Remulla said.
“And the micro grids are not confined here in the Philippines. It is all over Southeast Asia,” he also said.
Remulla said the campaign against the scam hubs has become “complicated”, adding authorities are using other tracking methods like monitoring of consumption of electricity and broadband, and movement of “suspicious persons” to locate scam hub facilities.
“They’re mostly operating now here in the Metro (Manila) area…We are tracking three active scam hubs, but the exact location is yet to be determined. But we are after them, and we will enforce the law to the best of our capacity,” Remulla said.
“We’re actively tracking three more here in the Metro Manila area. But it’s not as big as you think. It’s not a nationwide syndicate that is operating. It is very localized and not as widespread,” the official also said.
He said the three scam hubs are being operated by foreign nationals.
Asked if Chinese nationals are involved, Remulla just said: “They are foreigners.”
Remulla admitted that Filipinos are also involved in the operation of these three scam hubs.
“You cannot operate here without having a Filipino partner. Our problem is that as we track the henchmen that they (foreigners) use are dismissed policemen and dismissed military men. So they are the ones being linked to the operations,” he said.
Remulla said the other issues discussed during the meeting included trafficking in persons, money laundering, drug trafficking, terrorism, and cybercrime.
“The criminal networks behind these crimes assume that our citizens do not collaborate. This week, we made sure they do….Cooperation is not just an idea, it is already producing results,” Remulla said.
Remulla said they also tackled the issue on ASEAN extradition treaty.
“There is already,” Remulla said, referring to the treaty that was signed in November last year. The Senate has concurred in the ratification of the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition last September 14.
“It was discussed as one of the tools. But as far as I know, it is only with Malaysia that we do not have a formal extradition treaty yet,” Remulla also said.
“But the extradition was discussed as one of the weapons in order to combat transnational crimes. It was discussed openly. It will be adopted in the ASEAN Forum next month with all the heads of state,” he pointed out.