Palace to weigh proposed mutual legal assistance pact with Taiwan

Malacañang on Tuesday said it will consider the proposal of Taiwan for a mutual legal assistance agreement “within the framework of existing policies." The proposal will be discussed with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang. “We are going to consider that only within the framework of existing policies right now. So, we have to discuss that with the DFA, with the MECO," Lacierda said. In a press statement, Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said that an agreement on mutual judicial assistance between Taiwan and the Philippines should be concluded as soon as possible “to prevent such undesirable consequences from happening again in the future," referring to the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals accused of fraud to China last February 2. (See: Taiwan wants pact with PHL amid deportation row) The TECO added that such legal bilateral mechanism would allow the Philippines and Taiwan to assist each other in the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial processes related to criminal matters involving their respective nationals. Lacierda maintained that the deportation of the 14 was done in good faith and with the presumption of regularity. He added that Immigration Commissioner Roy Ledesma will file his comment with the Court of Appeals with regards to the matter. President Benigno Aquino III is set to send an emissary to Taiwan to explain the decision of the Philippine government. (See: Aquino to send ‘private citizen’ as emissary to Taiwan) MECO is the de facto Philippine “consulate" in Taipei, while its counterpart, TECO, functions as the de facto Taiwanese “consulate" in Manila. Manila does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, an island just north of the Philippines claimed by the People’s Republic of China as part of its territory, but which has asserted its own existence since 1949 as Republic of China. Not a single country in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which the Philippines is a member, has forged diplomatic relations with Taiwan due to its member-states’ commitment to the One-China Policy. China objects to any foreign contact that appears to treat Taiwan as a sovereign government.—Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMA News