Strengthening National and Regional Synergy: ASEANAPOL Executive Director Pays Courtesy Visit to NAPOLCOM Commissioner Calinisan

On April 16, 2025, Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, paid a courtesy visit to Atty. Rafel Vincent Calinisan, one of the distinguished Commissioners of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) of the Republic of the Philippines. Held at the NAPOLCOM Central Office in Quezon City, the meeting marked a meaningful engagement between a regional policing body and a key national oversight institution, fostering stronger alignment between national and regional law enforcement efforts.

Executive Director Vinluan began by introducing ASEANAPOL and its Secretariat, highlighting its pivotal role in strengthening police cooperation among the ten ASEAN Member Countries—Royal Brunei Police Force, Cambodian National Police, Indonesian National Police, Lao Police Force, Royal Malaysia Police, Myanmar Police Force, Philippine National Police, Singapore Police Force, Royal Thai Police, and the Office of Investigation Police Agency of Vietnam. He elaborated on ASEANAPOL’s mission to promote unity, professionalism, and shared responsibility in addressing transnational crime and its vision of contributing to a safe, secure, and peaceful ASEAN community. He also outlined current strategic initiatives focused on combating illicit drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, environmental crime, and emerging digital threats—emphasizing the importance of capacity-building, timely information exchange, and collective action among member countries.

Commissioner Calinisan warmly welcomed the visit and expressed appreciation for ASEANAPOL’s efforts in advancing regional law enforcement cooperation, particularly under the leadership of Executive Director Vinluan—the first Philippine National Police officer to hold the post since ASEANAPOL’s founding in 1981. He reaffirmed NAPOLCOM’s commitment to its mandate of ensuring an effective, accountable, and community-responsive Philippine National Police, while acknowledging the important role ASEANAPOL plays in complementing national law enforcement development. He further expressed NAPOLCOM’s full support for the PNP as an esteemed member of ASEANAPOL, recognizing its active participation in regional crime-fighting efforts. Commissioner Calinisan emphasized that ASEANAPOL must continue to sustain and enhance its relevance in regional law enforcement cooperation and collaboration, aligning its initiatives with national priorities and reinforcing global efforts led by INTERPOL in addressing transnational crime.

This engagement reflects ASEANAPOL’s ongoing initiative to deepen institutional partnerships with national stakeholders, promote greater awareness of its regional mission, and strengthen synergy in building a safer, more secure, and resilient ASEAN region.