PH, UK sign prisoner exchange pact

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed an agreement allowing the transfer of their respective nationals serving prison sentences.

The agreement was signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils at the Department of Justice’s main office in Manila.

“It’s something that we want to happen between the Philippines and other countries where there are Filipinos convicted and serving their prison sentence. It is an option that we want to give them para makauwi na sila kung sila ay nakakulong sa ibang bansa at nahihirapan sa kanilang kinalalagyan [so that those who are serving prison term abroad and facing difficulties can return home],’ Remulla said in a press briefing.

The latest treaty offers a framework where individuals sentenced in one contracting state can opt to serve their prison term in their native country.

The agreement, Remulla said, will complement the existing PH-UK Extradition Treaty and the PH-UK Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty, which were both signed in London in 2009.

The underlying rationale, according to the DOJ, is that being closer to family, friends and familiar culture can better facilitate the rehabilitation of the sentenced individuals, thus making it easier for their reintegration into society upon completion of their sentence.

Although Remulla could not provide the exact number of Filipinos convicted in the UK, he said the figure is more compared to British nationals serving prison sentences in the Philippines.

 The country has similar agreements with Spain, Thailand, and Hong Kong.