South Korea and the Philippines have agreed to revise their memorandum of understanding (MOU) on police cooperation and strengthen joint response systems against transnational crimes including drug trafficking and online fraud.
Acting Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-sung met with Philippine National Police Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in Manila on June 3 (local time) and agreed to revise the bilateral police cooperation MOU. This marks the second revision since the original agreement was first amended in 2007.
The meeting was held on the occasion of President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to the Philippines.
The two police chiefs agreed to cooperate on the swift arrest and extradition of fugitives abroad. The Korean National Police Agency will dispatch an additional police attaché to the Philippine National Capital Region Police Office in the first half of this year. This move aims to strengthen the Korean Desk—a dedicated unit handling cases involving Korean nationals that has been operating since 2012—to proactively respond to violent crimes targeting Koreans, which have been rising again recently.
Both sides also agreed to enhance the sharing of investigative information and work closely together on the rapid apprehension and repatriation of fugitives overseas.
During the summit, Acting Commissioner Yoo raised the 2016 case in which a Korean national was killed by Philippine police officers, requesting the swift arrest and prosecution of the main perpetrator. One of the principal suspects, a former Philippine police officer, remains at large.
Yoo noted that killings of Korean nationals in the Philippines had decreased to 2-5 cases annually since 2021 through Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs aimed at strengthening bilateral security exchanges and police capabilities. However, he urged Philippine police attention as such incidents have been rising again recently.
Acting Commissioner Yoo also proposed strengthening concrete cooperation through the International Investigation Cooperation Alliance (IICA), led by Korean police with Philippine participation, and the Asian Narcotics Crime Response Alliance (ANCRA). He also invited a Philippine police delegation to the International Conference on Narcotics (ICON) to be held in Seoul this year.
On June 4, Yoo will meet with Philippine Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Chairman Benjamin Acorda Jr. to discuss improvements to extradition procedures for Korean fugitives.
"The Philippines is a key partner that has long worked hand in hand with Korean police," said Acting Commissioner Yoo. "Through strengthened cooperation, we will achieve tangible results in protecting the lives and safety of both nations' citizens."