MANILA – The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed three key legal treaties covering extradition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and the transfer of sentenced persons.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently said the agreements were signed during the World Government Summit in Dubai, where First Lady Liza Marcos represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Philippine government.
The extradition treaty enables both countries to extradite individuals found in their territories for criminal prosecution, trial, or enforcement of sentences for extraditable offenses. The mutual legal assistance treaty allows the two nations to provide extensive support in investigating, prosecuting, and suppressing criminal offenses.
Meanwhile, the treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons will facilitate the transfer of nationals convicted in one country to serve their remaining sentence in their home country.
In addition to the legal agreements, the Philippines and UAE signed two other accords aimed at developing the Pasig River and enhancing government competitiveness. The Department of Justice said the agreements reinforce the two countries’ “mutual trust.”
“The Philippines and the UAE have long shared a deep and enduring relationship, with over 600,000 Filipinos contributing the UAE’s economy and society. These agreements reinforce our mutual trust, ensuring that our legal frameworks not only protect our citizens but also uphold the principles of justice and fairness,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in a statement.
Remulla added that the accords’ signing “is not just a legal milestone; it is a testament to what nations can achieve when they choose cooperation over division, justice over impunity, and partnership over isolation.”
Aside from the UAE, the Philippines has MLATs with Spain, Australia, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Korea, Russia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Legal assistance to other countries, which the Philippines may provide with respect to criminal matters under MLAT, includes taking the testimony or statement of persons providing documents, records, and items of evidence; locating or identifying witnesses or suspects; effecting serving documents; making arrangements for persons to give evidence or assist in investigation identifying, tracing, restraining, forfeiting, and confiscating proceeds and instrumentalities of criminal activities, including restraining of dealings in property or the freezing of assets alleged to be related to a criminal matter; and executing requests for searches and seizures. (With Benjamin Pulta/PNA)