MANILA — The Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Council signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Tuesday to further strengthen the agencies’ collaborative efforts in combating cybercrime and its links to drug-related activities. 

The agreement states that the CICC will act jointly with PDEA to take necessary and suitable procedures to counteract cybercrime activities.

On the other hand, PDEA is mandated for the law enforcement of anything associated with dangerous drugs, committing to supplement shared projects with relevant government agencies in preventing cybercrime.

CICC Executive Director Alexander Ramos affirmed that the CICC will always be behind PDEA in all these efforts. 

Ramos described the partnership as a “new realm of being together,” as it marks a leap in addressing the issues of drugs.

Ramos further explained that the CICC is a “binding entity” in all the efforts and campaigns to fight drugs, adding that the agency brings in modern technologies to fight crime.

“We look forward to that leap and to addressing the issues of drugs,” said Ramos.

PDEA Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban complemented Ramos’ statements and expressed the significance of CICC’s role in alleviating their anti-drug operations.

“Kailangan namin talaga yung ano CICC dahil ‘di pa kami masyado ganun kagaling sa mga cybercrime investigation,” said Gumban and further emphasized CICC’s upcoming contributions in future initiatives.

“Usually pag may mga cases kami, may kailangan kami na mga data. Yung mga data na yun hindi available samin kaya kailangan namin ng investigative techniques ng mga electronics, gadgets [at] kayang kaya ng CICC yun,” he added.

Ramos replied and emphasized CICC’s full support to PDEA, stating, “Strength namin is the data analytics which I would say [we] are more trained to handle it.”

Gumban also pledged that PDEA will work with CICC in handling operations in unison.

“Magkasama kami palagi. Joint palagi ang operations. Ayaw namin na yung kami-kami lang. Joint 'yun usually kasi 'pag drug cases kailangan 'yung authority ng PDEA,” he vowed.