Drilon: Extradition treaties with three countries to help gov’t war against transnational crimes

Press Release

04 March 2014

Refer to: Jeeno Arellano

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon underscored that the passage of an extradition treaty between the Philippine and three countries particularly with the United Kingdom is essential to government’s effort to fight criminality, especially those related to child trafficking and prostitution.

Drilon said it is high time that the long-delayed extradition treaties with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (UK), Spain and India be upheld.  

Drilon said he agreed with Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Senate foreign relations committee chair, who earlier said that there is no longer need for the senators to prolong talks on the treaties. Instead, Drilon added, the Senate should now proceed on affirming its concurrence in the ratification of these international agreements.

The treaties with these three countries were not approved during the 15^th Congress due to the unfortunate lack of quorum when they were under consideration, Drilon noted.

The Senate leader said that the country must be better-equipped in legally dealing with foreign individuals allegedly involved in child prostitution cases.

He pointed to grave criminal cases involving foreigners operating in the country, saying that “these should compel local authorities and their foreign counterparts to swift, decisive action.”

He referred to a BBC investigation on child pornography in the Philippines which revealed that several British nationals organized the systematic sexual abuse of Filipino children. The report followed a British-led international police operation across 14 countries busted a pedophile ring which preys on Filipino children, with 139 British nationals among the 733 suspects.    

Drilon said that the involvement of the Philippine police, who worked with UK National Crime Agency, along with members of the Australia, United States police force in the operation could have been improved had an extradition treaty with Britain been in effect. 

“With the extradition treaties with Britain, Spain and India in place, we would be able to fully coordinate with their administrative and security agencies, resulting in the much more efficient rule of law against criminals,” said Drilon, who had served as justice secretary.

The Senate chief then urged his fellow legislators to work towards the immediate passage of the three treaties “to finally put into effect our agreements with other countries, which the government has entered into principally to uphold our national integrity and interests.”

“As lawmakers of the land, we need to ensure that the Philippine legal system protects our citizenry against evil deeds perpetrated by foreign individuals, and that no injustice to any Filipino goes unmet, even those made by people wearing different flags,” Drilon said.  ###