ASSOCIATION of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) correctional leaders backed the Philippines’ bid for a region-wide prisoner transfer agreement, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Sunday.
BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference in Puerto Princesa City that ASEAN corrections officials are interested in a region-wide prisoner transfer because “we are now in a globalized world.”
Regarding the Philippines’ stance, he said the country will push for this “if we can implement it within ASEAN, we can achieve it globally.”
The move was followed by the transfer of drug convict Mary Jane F. Veloso back to Manila from Jakarta last December 2024.
The officials discussed the region-wide transfer agreement on Feb. 15, to which Mr. Catapang said ASEAN corrections officials agreed to draft position papers and propose solutions to tackle the issue.
He added the transfer would now be presented to higher officials of each ASEAN nation.
On Feb. 13, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla signed a similar treaty between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai.
According to Department of Migrant Workers data, 1,200 Filipinos have been convicted of crimes abroad and are currently incarcerated across the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
