JUSTICE WOULD REMAIN evasive against foreign nationals behind transnational crimes in the Philippines, unless the government secures the custody of the offenders to face criminal charges in local courts.
In a 19-page document obtained by The PH Insider, two Filipino women urged Ambassador Markus Lacanilao in his capacity as Special Envoy on Transnational Crime, to coordinate with the International Police Organization (Interpol) for the issuance of a Red Notice against London-based Adel En Nouri and Centvin Menez.
Nouri is an Italian who claims affiliation with UK Harrods Department Store in London. Menez, as stipulated in the formal complaint, is a London-based British-Indian national.
HEINOUS CRIME
Charges of violating Republic Act 9208, known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, have already been filed before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office earlier this month.
“We have recently filed formal criminal charges for Qualified Trafficking in Persons before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Pasay City, against foreign nationals,” reads the opening part of the document dated September 10, 2025.
The case involved pornography, sexual exploitation, abuse and manipulation, allegedly perpetrated by Nouri and Menez — through a pimp identified as “Mhami Jane,” the Filipino national who recruited the victims.
Under existing Philippine laws, Qualified Trafficking in Persons falls within the category of heinous crime.
INTERPOL ARREST
“Just recently, our Complaint has been the subject of a news article and this has brought about serious anxiety as we are fearful of the retribution that these foreign nationals might do to prevent us from proceeding with our Complaint,” said the victims in reference to an article which appeared on The PH Insider website on September 8.
“We have been getting meaningful insights and guidance from various personalities and we were advised to seek the assistance of your good office as the criminal charges are considered as transnational crimes,” they added.
“We ask the intercession of your good office to provide investigative support and cause the proper coordination with appropriate international forums involved in the campaign against transnational crime as part of the process of obtaining a Red Notice from the International Criminal Police Organization against these foreign nationals for them to be arrested so that they are brought before our courts of law and be held for trial.”
INTERPOL AFFILIATION
Web-sourced information showed that the Philippines has been affiliated with the Interpol since June 1952, with its National Central Bureau (in this case, the Philippine National Police) as conduit to the global law enforcement network.
PNP connects other local law enforcement agencies with other NCBs and Interpol’s General Secretariat across the globe.
The affiliation enabled cooperation on cross-border investigations, operations, and arrests — just like what happened with former Negros Oriental Rep. Annolfo Teves Jr. who was arrested in Timor Leste on a request of the Philippine authorities. Teves has remained behind bars for a string of criminal charges arising from murder, terrorism, and money laundering among others
It was also for its affiliation to the Interpol that former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague to face crimes against humanity in relation to the bloody war against drugs during his administration.