PH, UK sign deal allowing transfer of prisoners

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THE Philippines and the United Kingdom yesterday 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 Laure Beaufils at the Department of Justice main office in Manila.

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

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“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 so they can return home,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

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

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.

This means that Filipinos convicted in the UK can choose to serve their remaining sentences in the Philippines, easing their reintegration to society after completing their sentence.

Though he was not able to provide actual numbers, Remulla said the number of Filipinos imprisoned in the UK outnumbers British nationals detained in the country.

Last August, Manila and New Delhi inked the Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TTSP) and Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLA) to allow the repatriation of their respective nationals who have been convicted of crimes in either country.

Similar treaties exist between the Philippines and Spain, Thailand and Hong Kong.

The country does not have a similar treaty with its closest ally, the United States, but Manila has an extradition agreement with Washington.

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