Discaya

The Philippines and Cambodia signed yesterday three agreements, including a deal expanding areas of cooperation between the countries' police forces in fighting transnational crimes.

- By HELEN FLORES

President Marcos and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet witnessed the signing of the amended memorandum of understanding between the Philippine National Police and the National Police of the Kingdom of Cambodia on cooperation in combating transnational crimes.

The amendment specifies additional areas of cooperation, such as human trafficking, arms trafficking and cybercrime.

The amendment also includes an automatic renewal clause of the agreement.

"We acknowledge the pressing challenges across borders: human trafficking, cybercrime, illicit drugs and other transnational threats. These dangers affect the safety of our citizens and the stability of our societies," Marcos said during a joint press conference with Hun at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

"It is in this spirit that we agreed to strengthen collaboration among our law enforcement and security institutions so that our collective response will be swift, coordinated and effective," he added.

In an interview in Phnom Penh, Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Flerida Ann Camille access to national-level projects through connections in Congress—if they paid.

The Discayas alleged that these congressmen were responsible for demanding shares from projects and that the practice had become entrenched since they began handling government projects in 2016.

"They demanded no less than 10 percent and even up to 25 percent," the couple said in their statement read before the committee chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. They said kickbacks were made in cash and supported by vouchers and ledgers, which the committee subpoenaed for the next hearing.