The Philippines put human trafficking front and center as Southeast Asiaโs top maritime commanders gathered in Manila, calling for stronger regional cooperation to stop scam hubs and illegal recruiters that have been spiriting Filipinos out of the country. Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said trafficking has become a shared regional threat โ one that requires neighbors to actively intercept cross-border criminal networks and protect vulnerable workers lured into illicit industries across ASEAN.
The PCG is hosting this yearโs Southeast Asia Maritime Law Enforcement Initiative (SEAMLEI) Commanderโs Forum, bringing together senior officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States. Gavan underscored that information sharing, joint patrols, and synchronized enforcement protocols are essential for stopping trafficking routes, as well as other transnational crimes like illegal drugs and maritime smuggling. He emphasized that coordinated action allows countries to โprevent or avert the movement of our own people into harmโs wayโ before recruitment networks get to them.
Beyond trafficking, the forum is also tackling rising coercion in the South China Sea. Gavan said establishing common rules and enforcement norms among ASEAN coast guards could serve as a deterrent against โother actorsโ โ a clear reference to Chinaโs aggressive maneuvers, water cannon incidents, and militarized outposts in disputed waters. The United States reaffirmed its support, with Rear Admiral Jeffrey Novak saying Washington will continue training and collaboration with regional partners to uphold maritime stability and the rules-based order.