Reuters AlertNet Lite - Manila, Jakarta police agree on anti-crime pact

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Manila, Jakarta police agree on anti-crime pact

30 Nov 2006 07:45:38 GMT
Source: Reuters

MANILA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Philippines and Indonesian police have agreed to expand cooperation to fight cross-border crime including trafficking of small arms, drugs and people, a senior official said on Thursday.

Police from the two Southeast Asian states, which have a vast maritime border, signed a memorandum on Tuesday to exchange information about suspects, share intelligence and conduct joint operations.

"We're talking here of approaches and procedures in locating suspects and searching, arresting and handing over suspects," said Antonio Billiones, head of the Philippine National Police's directorate staff.

The two sides also agreed to work closely to train officers in new investigation techniques and upgrade skills.

Billiones said the anti-crime agreement would help tighten the border, giving both countries a chance to prevent activities that might be funding Muslim militants in the region.

Last month, an Indonesian militant suspected in several bombings in the southern Philippines was caught in the north of the Indonesian region of Sulawesi after cooperation by the police forces of the two countries.

Police intelligence agents are helping 6,000 Philippine soldiers hunt two Indonesian bomb-makers, Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who have been on the run for months on the remote southwestern Philippine island of Jolo.

In 2002, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia signed a counter-terrorism agreement to chase militants blamed for a series of blasts in Southeast Asia. Brunei, Cambodia and Thailand acceded to that pact.

Billiones said the new anti-crime pact would help pursue militants and criminals across borders by tapping into bank and credit card accounts and other means of moving money.

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Last updated:Wed Jan 10 22:52:28 2007