RP, Spain ink treaties vs terror, crime

The Philippines and Spain signed two treaties yesterday aimed at enhancing the fight against terrorism and other crime.

Acting Justice Secretary Merceditas Gutierrez and Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Ramon Gil-Casares signed an extradition treaty and another pact on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters.

"These two treaties will take us to higher border security," Casares said during the signing ceremony at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

He said the treaties will deny terrorists safe haven and help in the fight against terrorism, crime and arms and human trafficking.

Gutierrez said the treaties were timely as "crimes today are increasingly getting global in their bases of operations, in execution… and in the shelters criminals seek."

The anti-crime treaty is expected to "improve the effectiveness of judicial assistance as well as to regularize and facilitate its procedures in both countries," she said.

The extradition treaty is the first such agreement the Philippines has signed with a member of the European Union. The Philippines has extradition treaties with Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Micronesia, South Korea, Thailand and the United States.

The Philippines actually has an extradition treaty with Switzerland, concluded in 1989 before the European Union was established.

Manila and Bern signed a pact on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters in July last year.