GMA transfers anti-transnational crime body to DILG

President Arroyo has placed the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Before its transfer to the DILG, the PCTC was under the direct supervision of the National Security Adviser.

In Executive Order 735, Mrs. Arroyo said she placed the PCTC under the control of the DILG to enhance the cooperation between the PCTC and local government units “given the nature and extent of transnational crime.”

The PCTC, now headed by Undersecretary Rolando Garcia, was created under Executive Order 62 during the Estrada administration to help counter the growing sophistication of transnational crimes such as illegal drugs and human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, arms smuggling, and piracy in the country.

In transferring the PCTC to the DILG, the President noted that the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, of which the Philippines is a signatory, encourages the formulation of coordinated national policy, legislative, administrative and law enforcement approaches to prevent and combat transnational crime more effectively. – Marvin Sy