Phl not safe haven for alien fugitives, says DoJ

The Department of Justice (DoJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) jointly declared recently that the Philippines will not serve as a safe haven for foreign fugitives, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to international extradition treaties and global law enforcement cooperation.

In a joint radio interview, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and NBI director Melvin Matibag highlighted recent joint interdiction operations that resulted in the capture and deportation of high-profile foreign criminal suspects.

“The government fully honors its international commitments on fugitives,” Vida said, commending the NBI and the Bureau of Immigration for executing high-level arrest warrants and intercepting wanted individuals at border control points.

Vida noted that recent operations yielded the capture and deportation of four fugitives listed on the US government’s Top 10 most wanted list.

He added that the Philippines expects reciprocity from international partners, including France and Austria, when tracking Filipino fugitives hiding abroad.