Drilon: Reyes brothers' extradition has legal basis

The Philippines has a long-standing extradition treaty with Thailand, ratified in 1981,
which allows for the extradition of individuals who are suspects in a crime or have been
charged, found guilty, or convicted of a crime covered under the treaty. This treaty is a
legal mechanism put in place to facilitate cooperation between the two countries in the
repression of crime, specifically in matters of extradition.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has recently emphasized the significance of this
treaty in the case of the Reyes brothers, former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and former
Coron Mayor, who are suspects in the killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry
Ortega in 2011. Drilon has urged Secretary Leila De Lima to coordinate with her
counterpart in Thailand for the immediate extradition of the Reyes brothers, citing the
1981 Treaty as the legal basis for such an action.

Drilon stated that the immediate arrest of the Reyes brothers will speed up the
resolution of the Ortega case and provide justice to the victim's family. He also noted
that the treaty specifies that the two countries "agree to extradite to each other, in the
circumstance and subject to the conditions described in this Treaty, persons found in its
territory who are being proceeded against or who have been charged with, found guilty
or convicted of, any of the crimes" covered under the Treaty.

The treaty covers a wide range of criminal activities, including the killing or causing
death to another person, abduction, kidnapping, corruption, and crimes against the laws
relating to narcotics, firearms, and explosives. This means that the Reyes brothers, as
suspects in the killing of Gerry Ortega, can be extradited to the Philippines to face trial
for their alleged crime.

Aside from the 1981 Treaty, the Philippines has also ratified a resolution concurring in
the ratification of the ASEAN Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters in
2008. This treaty aims to strengthen the cooperation among ASEAN member states in
the fight against transnational crime and it also provides a legal framework for mutual
legal assistance in criminal matters, including extradition.

It is crucial to note that the extradition process is a complex and multi-step procedure
that involves the cooperation of different agencies and the judicial system of both
countries. It is also a legal process that must be conducted in accordance with the laws
and regulations of both countries, as well as the provisions of the extradition treaty.

In conclusion, the Philippines has a legal basis for requesting the extradition of the
Reyes brothers from Thailand, through the 1981 Treaty between the Philippines and
Thailand. This treaty, along with the ASEAN Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in
Criminal Matters, provides a framework for the repression of crime and cooperation
between the two countries in matters of extradition. The immediate arrest of the Reyes
brothers, as suspects in the killing of Gerry Ortega, will speed up the resolution of the
case and provide justice to the victim's family.

https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2015/0922_drilon3.asp