Law ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states on Friday formally signed the ASEAN Extradition Treaty (AET), which establishes a uniform legal framework for extradition among Asean countries.

The Philippines’ Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida was the first to sign the AET.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hailed the signing of the treaty, calling it a “defining moment” in bringing individuals who have acted against the law to justice.

“With this landmark treaty, we send a clear message to the world that we are united and that our legal foundation is stronger than ever,” he said.

An extradition treaty is a binding legal instrument that allows the surrender of a fugitive found in one country to a requesting country where he or she is being prosecuted or must serve a sentence.

“In an extradition treaty, the Department of Justice is the central authority for the Philippines. As such, the DoJ, through the Office of the Chief State Counsel, is responsible for making or processing extradition requests,” the DoJ explained.

Stronger legal coordination

Marcos also called on the justice ministries and departments of Asean member states to work together to combat conventional cross-border crimes and to consider emerging transnational challenges.

“I speak of the threat of cybercrimes and the ethical and legal implications of artificial intelligence,” he said.

“We must ensure that our laws can govern the digital space fairly and securely. We must also intensify our efforts to be proactive, ensuring that ASEAN’s growth is sustainable, secure, and rooted in human dignity,” he added.

The President stressed that the law “continues to be the great equalizer of our time,” particularly during the present when corruption, inefficiency, and impunity “erode the moral bases of our societies.”

“Therefore, we must ensure that the legal framework works for the benefit of our peoples,” Marcos said.