(File photo)
MANILA – The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday launched a motu proprio inquiry to review and amend Presidential Decree 1069, or the Philippine Extradition Law of 1977, citing the need to update the country's extradition framework in light of rising cross-border crimes and recent high-profile cases.
Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the panel, said the inquiry seeks to modernize a law that has served the Philippines for nearly five decades but is now showing its age.
"Extradition is an indispensable tool in the global fight against impunity. It ensures that our country will never be a haven for fugitives or an obstacle to justice sought by our treaty partners," Luistro said in her opening statement.
However, Luistro cautioned that even as the overhaul of the extradition law is necessary, reforms must also ensure the protection of individual rights.
"We must also make sure that our processes safeguard due process, protect constitutional rights and uphold our obligations under international law," she said.
The inquiry comes as the Philippines handles the looming extradition case of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, who faces criminal charges in the country and a pending extradition request from the United States.
Quiboloy and his cohorts were indicted in California on charges of sex trafficking, fraud and bulk cash smuggling.
The Department of Justice has said Quiboloy's local cases must first be resolved before the extradition process can move forward, pointing to gaps in the application of PD 1069.
Lawmakers said this underscores the urgency of updating the law to align with international standards while balancing national sovereignty.
Luistro said the hearings will examine procedural bottlenecks, clarify the roles of agencies such as the DOJ, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and strengthen institutional capacity to handle complex extradition requests.
"Our goal is to craft legislative measures that will streamline procedures, clarify the roles of government agencies, strengthen institutional capacity and reinforce our commitments under bilateral and multilateral treaties," she said.
The panel invited resource persons from the DOJ, DFA, Anti-Money Laundering Council, OSG, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police and the National Security Council to share inputs in the inquiry.
Luistro said the committee will also look into how best practices from other jurisdictions can be incorporated into Philippine law to improve efficiency and fairness.
"We must send a clear message that the Philippines is committed to justice and accountability, both within our borders and in the community of nations," Luistro said. (PNA)
}
0 Mga Komento