2 March 2004 – Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael E. Seguis this morning commended the signing of two significant treaties between the Philippines and Spain, namely the Treaty on Extradition and the Treaty of Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters held at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Spanish Foreign Minister H.E. Ramon Gil Caceres signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Spain, while Acting Secretary of Justice Mercedita Gutierrez signed for the Republic of the Philippines. The Philippines-Spain Extradition Treaty will facilitate the exchange of wanted criminals from the country where they are found. The treaty will prevent these criminals from escaping punishment by fleeing to the country of the Contracting Party. According to Acting Secretary Seguis, this is the first time that the Philippines will sign an extradition treaty with a member state of the European Union. Switzerland and the Philippines signed a similar agreement in October 1989 during the Aquino administration.

The Acting Secretary said that the Philippines-Spain Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters is envisioned to  improve the  effectiveness of  judicial  assistance as  well as to  regularize and  facilitate its procedures in both countries. It is envisioned to enhance cooperation between the two countries in their common fight against transnational crimes, in particular, terrorism and to facilitate cooperation on legal matters involving citizens of both countries. According to him this is also the first time that the Philippines will sign a treaty of mutual legal assistance with an EU member state. Switzerland and the Philippines concluded a similar agreement in July 2002 according to Acting Secretary Seguis.END