The Senate concurred in the ratification of the treaty between the Philippines and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.
Proposed Senate Resolution No. 315 aims to allow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to serve their sentences in their home country, subject to the consent of the prisoner and both governments.
“This treaty only gives an option to our fellow citizens and foreign nationals if they wish to be transferred, allowing them to be closer to their families and addressing practical concerns such as language barriers.”
“This treaty only gives an option to our fellow citizens and foreign nationals if they wish to be transferred, allowing them to be closer to their families and addressing practical concerns such as language barriers,” said Senator Erwin Tulfo, sponsor of the measure.
Tulfo explained that the transfer is not automatic and will follow the “three-fold consent rule,” which requires the approval of the sentencing country, the receiving country, and the prisoner before any transfer can take place.
Under this rule, the country that issued the sentence must allow the transfer, the country that will receive the prisoner must agree to implement the sentence, and the prisoner must voluntarily consent after being informed of the conditions of the transfer.
The legislator said the Department of Foreign Affairs would explain the consequences and conditions of the transfer before its implementation.
The treaty also allows the Philippines to deny transfer requests for reasons related to national security or public interest.
