PH DOJ, EU agency vow closer coordination vs. transnational crimes

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla recently met with the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) in the Netherlands and discussed closer coordination against transnational crimes, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

“This significant meeting with Eurojust paves the way for more exchanges of information and best practices on the institutional and policy level, as well as foster closer coordination among our agencies in terms of investigation and prosecution of specific transnational crimes,” Remulla said in a statement.

According to the DOJ, Eurojust President Ladislav Hamram welcomed Remulla and the Philippine delegation at their headquarters in The Hague on May 24.

The DOJ said Jose de la Mata, Eurojust Chair for Board on Relations with Partners, briefed the delegation on the agency’s partnerships.

It said both sides agreed to establish cooperative working arrangements.

Meanwhile, Eurojust extended its gratitude to Remulla and the delegation.

“Organised crime does not stop at borders - and neither do we! In this spirit, we welcomed to Eurojust Jesus Crispin Remulla, Secretary of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines,” it said in a tweet.

“Thank you for your visit and your interest in our work,” it added.

The Philippine delegation was composed of Remulla, Justice Undersecretaries Raul Vasquez, Jesse Anders, Jose Cadiz Jr., National Bureau of Investigation director Medardo de Lemos, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez, Supervising Agent Chief Filipinas Astero, and Chief Marie Catherine Nolasco. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA Integrated News