Manila, Dec. 27 (CNA) Jerry Wang, an executive assistant at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, has been awarded a Philippine police decoration for having helped the country with the arrest of many major criminal suspects.
Wang, Taiwan's de facto police attaché in Manila, will conclude his tour of duty and return to Taipei in February 2021 after serving in the Southeast Asian country for more than eight years.
He first served in the Philippines from July 2011 to January 2016 and was reassigned to Manila in December 2016.
Thanks to Wang's services, Taiwan and the Philippines have solved several major transnational crimes during his stint in Manila, TECO told CNA on Saturday.
For his work, Wang was conferred "Medalya Ng Katangitanging Gawa" (Outstanding Achievement Medal) by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on June 3, 2020, becoming the first foreign national to receive the honor.
The then-PNP chief Archie Gamboa awarded the medal to Wang, witnessed by TECO Head of Mission Michael Hsu, Wang told CNA on Sunday.
According to the Philippine Government Official Gazette, the medal is awarded to PNP members and civilian personnel of the Philippines and to friendly foreign nations for distinguished achievement or service in advancement related to public service of the highest order.
In its citation regarding the award, the PNP praised Wang for facilitating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on combating transnational crime between the two sides, which included the arrest and repatriation of several high-profile Taiwanese criminals.
Other operations facilitated by Wang include anti-illegal drug operations, anti-telecommunications fraud operations, anti-illegal firearms operations, anti-kidnapping operations, exchanges of visits by high-ranking officials, workshops in Taiwan and scholarship programs for PNP personnel at Taiwan Central Police University.
According to TECO records, Wang played an important role in the arrest of three high-profile criminals in 2018-2019 alone.
They were former Philippine city councilor Ricardo Parojinog, who was hiding out in Taiwan and was wanted by the Philippine authorities over drug-related cases; Israeli-American Oren Shlomo Mayer in the Philippines, who was wanted for killing an alleged Canadian drug dealer in Taiwan; and ex-Tainan County Council Speaker Wu Chien-pao (吳健保), who fled Taiwan in 2014 after being convicted of fixing professional baseball games.
Wang told CNA that he was able to accomplish the tasks assigned by his Taipei headquarters largely due to the good connections he established during his first term in Manila.
"Many Philippine police officers I met have been promoted to high-ranking officials in the PNP. They were the ones who helped me push forward and complete many projects," Wang said.
Aside from that, Taiwan's National Police Agency and TECO in the Philippines have also provided support to the PNP, which also helped the two sides to establish closer cooperation, he added.
"There is a real need for close cross-border anti-crime cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines due to their geographical proximity. I believe that by frequent anti-crime engagements, the two sides can further strengthen their relations," he said.
Wang's successor will arrive in Manila next month to take over the post, according to TECO.
