Current Situation of and Countermeasures Against Transnational Organized Crime in the Republic of the Philippines (From UNAFEI Annual Report for 2000 and Resource Material Series No. 59, P 429-451, 2002, -- See NCJ-200221)

• NCJ Number: 200240
• Author(s): Severino H. Gana Jr.
• Date Published: October 2002
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Japan

Annotation

This document discusses the incidence of and countermeasures against transnational organized crime in the Philippines.

Abstract

The incidences of various transnational crimes within the Philippines have created a significant impact on its political, economic, and sociocultural stability and security. Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, or receipt of persons, by threat or use of force, by abduction, fraud, deception, coercion or the abuse of power, or by the giving or receiving of payments or benefits for the purpose of exploitation. The Philippines is a major source of people that are trafficked to other countries with able economies. The Philippines is being used also as a transit and destination country. The nationalities of those involved in human trafficking are mostly Filipinos with contacts in transit and destination countries. The Philippines’ experience in international terrorism began in 1985 when international terrorist groups attempted to establish a foothold in the country. The Philippines is also a haven for money laundering. Drug trafficking is a lucrative business in the country. The Philippines has the second lowest software piracy rate among Southeast Asian countries. Illicit trafficking of firearms is another menace to Philippine society. While the government campaigns to dismantle all private armies have resulted in a significant decline in gunrunning transactions and firearms smuggling, the proliferation of loose firearms remains unabated. High seas piracy and armed robbery against ships has exhibited a downward trend, but the Philippines has the highest number of crew members/passengers killed during piracy attacks in 2000. There have been incidents of cyberterrorism that have involved the Philippines, most notably the ILOVEYOU virus. Countermeasures against organized crime in the Philippines have included legislation, specialized law enforcement units, and programs of various international and national organizations as well as the government. National conditions that make the Philippines vulnerable to exploitation by transnational organized syndicates include the unguarded coastline, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, the unemployment problem, proximity to drug producing and exporting countries, and the absence or ineffectiveness of laws against transnational crime.