Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to expand intelligence-sharing with its Southeast Asian counterparts after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) endorsed Timor-Leste&#x27;s admission as its 11th member, a move seen to bolster the region&#x27;s fight against transnational crime.</p><p>PNP chief and this year&#x27;s ASEANAPOL chairperson, Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., said police units have been directed to prepare for Timor-Leste&#x27;s eventual inclusion by strengthening intelligence-sharing mechanisms under ASEANAPOL.</p><p>“Timor-Leste&#x27;s admission will strengthen our regional security architecture by expanding intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and information exchange across Southeast Asia,” Nartatez said.</p><p>“With another trusted partner in ASEANAPOL, we can better address cross-border crimes and threats including trafficking, smuggling, cyber-enabled crimes through a more coordinated and unified response,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:623px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" 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data-tweet-id="2080951306810970440"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>The endorsement was among the key outcomes of the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference hosted by the Philippines.</p><p>Timor-Leste&#x27;s membership will take effect once formally adopted through a Joint Communique.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/6/asean-summit-2026-welcomes-timor-leste-as-full-fledged-member-1519">ASEAN Summit 2026 welcomes Timor-Leste as full-fledged member</a></div><p>Meanwhile, the PNP chief also ordered police units nationwide to begin implementing resolutions approved during the three-day conference, particularly those involving intelligence sharing, cybercrime investigations, and anti-online scam operations.</p><p>Nartatez said the agreements reached during the conference would strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia through expanded training, forensic collaboration, and coordinated operations against transnational criminal groups.</p><p>“We secured stronger intelligence sharing, closer operational coordination, expanded training opportunities, enhanced forensic cooperation, and deeper partnerships against cybercrime, online scams, terrorism, trafficking in persons, and other cross-border crimes,” he said.</p><p>Among the measures endorsed by delegates were stronger cooperation against illegal drug trafficking, terrorism, trafficking in persons, firearms smuggling, cybercrime, financial crimes, wildlife crimes, maritime crimes, and online scam operations.</p><p>Delegates likewise approved the continued modernization of the Electronic ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS), expanded personnel exchanges and police training, as well as the ASEAN Police Combat Operational Task Force for 2026 to 2028.</p><p>On the sidelines of the conference, the PNP chief held bilateral meetings with police officials from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom, along with representatives of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.</p><p>Their discussions focused on intelligence sharing, maritime security, counterterrorism, child protection, cybercrime, and capacity-building initiatives.</p><p>“The successful hosting of the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference shows that the Philippines is a trusted and capable partner in regional law enforcement. It reflects our commitment to promoting cooperation, building consensus, and turning dialogue into concrete action,” Nartatez noted.</p><p>Hosted under the theme &quot;United in Vision: Securing People and Strengthening Collaboration,&quot; the conference gathered police chiefs from ASEANAPOL member states, 12 dialogue partners, and 11 observer organizations.</p><p>The Philippines assumed the ASEANAPOL chairmanship from the Royal Thai Police during the conference, while Indonesia will host the 45th ASEANAPOL Conference next year.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/pnp-deploys-over-1-500-personnel-for-aseanapol-conference-0802">PNP deploys over 1,500 personnel for ASEANAPOL conference</a></div>

<p>The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to expand intelligence-sharing with its Southeast Asian counterparts after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) endorsed Timor-Leste's admission as its 11th member.</p>

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to expand intelligence-sharing with its Southeast Asian counterparts after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) endorsed Timor-Leste's admission as its 11th member.

PNP eyes stronger regional crime fight as ASEANAPOL backs Timor-Leste membership

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PNP eyes stronger regional crime fight as ASEANAPOL backs Timor-Leste membership

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 26, 2026 01:48 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

police

ASEANAPOL

Timor-Leste

intelligence sharing

transnational crime

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