PH, Timor-Leste to pursue legal, political cooperation

The Philippines and Timor-Leste will pursue legal cooperation and political consultations in a bid to strengthen their bilateral ties amid the latter's full membership to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

- By RAYMUND ANTONIO

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said in her speech during the bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas on Wednesday, Oct. 22, that they are currently in talks to deepen cooperation agreements on a number of issues and sectors.

"This morning, we examined the prospect of pursuing legal cooperation to send a strong and unified message: Those who must face justice as determined by our legal systems will find no safe haven within our respective borders," she said.

Freitas said that political consultation mechanisms will be established when the Philippines chairs ASEAN next year.

"We want to see another followup communication with the establishment of political consultation mechanisms that will be happening next year when Philippines will chair the chairmanship of ASEAN. It's really very important," he said.