MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has launched a heightened campaign to uncover and eliminate illegal activities tied to foreign crime syndicates operating across the country.
PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. issued the command following direct instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for law enforcement entities to escalate operations against foreign criminal networks that pose risks to public safety and national security.
“Foreign criminal groups have no place in our communities. We will use intelligence, technology, and evidence-driven operations to expose their networks, disrupt their activities, and hold those responsible accountable under the law,” Nartatez said.
“Our mandate is clear: protect our people and prevent our country from becoming a safe haven for illicit operations,” he added.
Clarifying the scope of the crackdown, Nartatez emphasized that police actions will target unlawful behavior rather than specific foreign origins.
“Our enforcement must be directed at criminality, not nationality. We will go after individuals and networks when evidence shows that they are engaged in illegal activities, regardless of where they come from,” he stressed.
“The rule of law applies equally to everyone, and our duty is to protect the Filipino people through fair, professional, and evidence-based policing,” he added, asserting that all police actions will rely strictly on solid evidence.
The PNP chief also highlighted the necessity of collaborating with counterpart government bodies to tackle multi-jurisdictional crime rings.
“We will continue to strengthen partnerships with other law enforcement agencies to prevent these nefarious activities,” the top cop said.
In line with these measures, the PNP appealed to the public to stay vigilant and promptly inform law enforcement of any suspicious behavior involving foreign nationals.