British envoy urges ratification of RP-UK treaties

MANILA, Philippines - British Ambassador to Manila Stephen Lillie yesterday urged the Philippine government to ratify the RP-UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the RP-UK Extradition Treaty signed by President Arroyo during her visit to London on Sept. 18.

Lillie said the signing of the bilateral agreements between the Philippines and the United Kingdom will solve UK’s problems of child exploiters escaping justice in the UK and hiding in the Philippines.

“I think they have to go through some ratification processes on both sides but it’s a very positive step forward and hopefully it’s an important concern on the child exploitation agenda,” Lillie told reporters.

“On our side, the real motivation for signing the agreement came from the UK agency on child exploitation and protection, which is responsible for tackling child sex offenders in the UK. We don’t want child sex offenders coming to the Philippines and evading justice. This will be an important contribution to your society,” Lillie added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and British First Secretary of State Lord Mandelson signed the bilateral agreements in front of President Arroyo.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty is a bilateral mechanism for the two countries to assist each other in the investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial processes for apprehended criminals. 

It is also expected to forge stronger cooperation between the two countries in combating transnational crimes such as terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and exploitation of women and children.

The Extradition Treaty, meanwhile, provides the legal framework for custody of criminals who have sought refuge in either the Philippines or the UK.

The DFA said the two treaties are complementary and can further deepen the “already productive relationship” between the two countries.