PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Corrections officials of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed support to the Philippines' proposal for a region-wide transfer of sentenced persons (TSP) agreement.

The ASEAN-wide TSP would bring back sentenced persons to their home countries, where they would be close to their families, with people who speak the same language and share the same customs and traditions.

The Philippines has TSP agreements with the Hong Kong Administrative Region, Spain and Thailand. The TSPs with Canada and the United Kingdom have yet to take effect.

Last Feb. 13, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla signed a TSP treaty between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Based on data from the Department of Migrant Workers, there are about 1,200 Filipinos convicted of crimes abroad and are incarcerated across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Middle East countries.

ASEAN corrections officials "are interested because you know we are now in a globalized world,” Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang told reporters on Sunday, Feb. 16, at the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference (ARCC) held in Puerto Princesa City.

On the part of the Philippines, Catapang stressed “we will pursue this because you know, if we can do it in the ASEAN, we can do it anywhere in the world.”

The ARCC, which began last Friday, Feb. 14, brought together corrections officials from ASEAN-member countries as well as representatives from international organizations to discuss concerns over the corrections systems in the region.

“We had a high-level meeting among the ASEAN countries and, among the discussions, was the TSP,” Catapang said.

“Since we are just like brothers and sisters in ASEAN, we are very close to each other, I think that's one area that we can pursue ‘yung (the) prison transfer arrangements,” he said.

The ASEAN corrections officials agreed to craft “position papers, present ways and means on how to address that predicament,” he added, as he pointed out that the issue on the TSP would have to be presented before the higher officials of each ASEAN nation.

Catapang pointed out that “in as much as we also have our laws and they have their own laws, we have to marry these laws so that there will be no conflict legally.”

During the Philippines presentation of the proposed TSP last Saturday, Feb. 15, Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Chief State Counsel Mildred Bernadette B. Alvor said “the TSP will be in keeping with the restorative justice versus retributive justice.”

Alvor said “the Philippines has long held the vision of establishing an ASEAN convention on the transfer of sentenced persons since its inaugural proposal in the 15th ASLOM (ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting)” held in Laos in 2013.

Humane, enhanced jail conditions

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chief Director Ruel Rivera reminded the participants of the 2nd ARCC of their responsibility to conduct a progressive and humane correctional landscape.

“We reaffirm our commitment to a correctional system that is not just secure but also transformative. This conference is more than a venue for discussion; it is a platform for action, collaboration, and the continuous pursuit of excellence in jail management and rehabilitation,” Rivera said.

He also underscored the conference’s significance in advancing regional correctional reforms, stressing that under the guidance of the President’s vision for Bagong Pilipinas, “we are steadfast in our commitment to building a secure, just, and humane society.’’

“We are confident that the ARCC will further strengthen cooperation among ASEAN nations to enhance safekeeping, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts for PDL,” Rivera emphasized.

With the BJMP and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) hosting the ARCC, the event brings together top correctional officials and experts from across Southeast Asia to strengthen regional cooperation and advance prison system reforms.

Correctional leaders from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and the Philippines are participating in the event, alongside international organizations and jail management experts.

With the theme “Weaving the ASEAN Regional Corrections Identity: Co-creating a Shared Vision of Transformation,” the conference is tackling pressing correctional issues, including rehabilitation programs, security measures, alternative sentencing, digital innovations for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) management, and strategies to position ASEAN as a global benchmark for modern prison practices.

Key discussions also focused on jail decongestion, prison health, reintegration programs, parole and probation, and initiatives to counter violent extremism.

Rivera said the BJMP upholds its core values of “Makatao, Matino, Matatag,” ensuring that the country’s jail management system remains humane, ethical, and resilient.

“These principles are central to the discussions as ASEAN nations work toward more effective and sustainable correctional policies,’’ he added.

With the conference, the BJMP stressed that it is expected to set the stage for stronger regional collaboration and policy alignment, reinforcing the shared goal of improving correctional systems across Southeast Asia.

Rivera noted that the Philippines’ hosting of the major international event highlights its growing leadership in correctional reform, aligning with global efforts to uphold human rights and promote rehabilitation-centered prison management.

The country’s hosting of this year’s ARCC builds on the initiatives launched during the 1st ARCC, hosted by the Malaysian Correctional Academy (MCA) in Langkawi, Kedah, in 2024. (With Chito Chavez)