'Defining moment' for regional justice - PBBM

President Marcos said the signing of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Extradition Treaty (AET) marked a "defining moment" for Southeast Asia's legal cooperation, as he opened the 13th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM) in Taguig City on Friday, Nov. 14.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Speaking before regional law chiefs, Marcos said the treaty reflects the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' united resolve to ensure that "individuals with criminal charges will not escape justice by crossing borders in ASEAN."

He said the agreement harmonizes longstanding principles in international extradition arrangements, from the surrender of fugitives and provisional arrests to documentation standards, dispute-resolution mechanisms, and implementation processes.

"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," the President said.

He added that the AET builds on decades of cooperation since the law ministers' meeting was first convened in Bali in 1986, when ASEAN was "a region still discovering our potential."