LANDMARK TREATY Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils formalize on Thursday, the Philippines-United Kingdom Treaty on
the Transfer of Sentenced Persons at the Department of Justice headquarters in Manila. —PHOTO FROM DOJ FACEBOOK PAGE
The Philippines on Thursday entered into a prisoner-transfer treaty with the United Kingdom that will allow qualified Filipinos locked up in the European nation to be transferred here to finish their prison terms, and similarly for British nationals in Philippine jails to be sent back home to complete their sentences.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the agreement, which was formally signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and British Ambassador to Manila Laure Beaufils, further solidified the strengthening bilateral relations between the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
Reintegration
“The treaty, aligning with international standards, offers a framework where individuals sentenced in one contracting state can opt to serve their sentences in their native country,” it said.
“The underlying rationale is that being closer to family, friends and familiar culture can better facilitate the rehabilitation of the sentenced individuals,” the DOJ added.
It also stressed that allowing Filipinos convicted in the United Kingdom to serve their remaining sentences in the Philippines would also ease their reintegration into society upon completion of their prison terms.
Better facilities
“It’s something we want to happen between the Philippines and other countries where Filipino nationals have been detained. It’s an option that we want to give them so they could return home if they are struggling with their situation abroad,” Remulla said at a press briefing.
“I’m sure you will appreciate that for the Philippines, as well as for the UK, this is the right thing to do. It is an important achievement and a further example of the close relationship between our two countries,” Beaufils said during her speech.
Remulla acknowledged that other people might comment that the situation in prison facilities abroad is much better than the country’s detention centers.
“That may be true. But still, these are requests that we cannot just ignore because it’s part of diplomacy to have this prisoner-transfer (program),” Remulla said, adding that the United Kingdom had asked for such an agreement.
“This is important to us because there are many Filipinos abroad and there are countries where their situation is not good, not ideal,” he noted.
Without citing figures, Remulla said there were many Filipinos detained in Great Britain as compared to British nationals languishing in Philippine detention facilities.
‘Victims’
Asked if there were high-profile British nationals detained in the country, the justice secretary said: “There are. There are those I think were also victims of circumstances, victims of miscarriage of justice who should be given consideration.”
“I know a lot of cases where detained British nationals are supposed to be sent home, but were caught in certain processes of our judicial system,” he added.
The DOJ noted that the new treaty complemented the existing PH-UK Extradition Treaty and the PH-UK Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters that were signed in London in 2009.
Apart from the United Kingdom, the Philippines has a similar existing prison-transfer treaty with Spain, Hong Kong and Thailand.