The Philippines and Cambodia had discussed cooperation between the two countries' police forces in combating transnational crime and their intention to learn from their experiences and practices in local government administration.
Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Maria Amelita C. Aquino recently met with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng to discuss cooperation in areas under the Ministry of Interior as agreed during the 3rd PH-Cambodia Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation held on Dec. 1 to 2, 2021.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), both sides discussed the implementation of the memorandum of understanding on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Cambodian National Police.
The two leaders also expressed intention to exchange experiences and best practices in local government administration.
It was disclosed that "Minister Sar Kheng expressed interest in learning about the Philippines’ best practices in administrative reforms, including the devolution of powers to local government units."
During the meeting, Aquino conveyed appreciation for the Minister for Interior’s assistance in the repatriation of stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Cambodia amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
The Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh was able to repatriate 1,110 distressed OFWs in Cambodia through the facilitation of the General Department of Immigration, a line agency under the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
Aquino further expressed support for Cambodia’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship in 2022 while Kheng pledged to pursue Philippines and Cambodian common interests in ASEAN.