JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla sought greater collaboration with his European counterparts in his recent visit to the headquarters of Eurojust in the Hague, Netherlands, especially in the prosecution of transnational crimes.
Eurojust facilitates coordination among national judicial authorities of European Union member-states and cooperates with third States in investigating and prosecuting transnational crimes.
During his visit, Remulla and the Philippine delegation met with Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran and Eurojust’s Chair for Board on Relations with Partners Jose de la Mata and discussed how to combat the scourge of cross-border crimes, especially online sexual exploitation of children.
“This significant meeting with Eurojust paves the way for more exchanges of information and best practices on the institutional and policy level, as well as foster closer coordination among our agencies in terms of investigation and prosecution of specific transnational crimes,” Remulla said in a statement yesterday of the Philippine delegation’s May 24 visit.
The two sides also agreed to establish cooperative working arrangements between their respective agencies.
Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Eduardo Malaya echoed Remulla’s statement, saying the visit showed the two sides “stand ready to work closely together against cross-border crimes.”
Hamran said Eurojust will also work with the Philippines to address and deter the commission of such crimes.
“Organized crime does not stop at borders and neither do we,” he added in a tweet.
The Philippines is the Asean-EU Coordinator from 2021 to 2024.
Country coordinators are responsible for promoting Asean’s interests with its dialogue and strategic partners in such areas as combating transnational crimes while enhancing relations based on mutual respect and equality.
Joining Remulla in the visit were DOJ Undersecretary for International and legal Cluster Raul Vazquez, Undersecretary for Law Enforcement Cluster Jesse Andres, Undersecretary for Immigration and Public Attorney’s Office Jose Cadiz Jr., NBI Director Medardo De Lemos, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez, NBI Supervising Agent chief for International Operations Division Filipinas Astrero and NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division chief Marie Catherine Nolasco.
