The Philippines joined nine other Southeast Asian nations on September 15 in signing the Sanur Bali Declaration, a pact committing member states to strengthen cooperation against cross-border crimes.

The declaration, adopted during the ASEAN Prosecutors/Attorneys General Meeting (APAGM) in Bali, sets out commitments to address transnational offenses such as online gambling, scams, corruption, money laundering, and cross-border asset smuggling.

Prosecutors general from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam signed the agreement, with the Philippines represented by Prosecutor-General Richard Anthony Fadullon and Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Prosecutor Mohammad Mon-Em Imam Abangad.

“The Sanur Bali Declaration reaffirms our shared determination to address organized crimes that transcend national boundaries,” it reads, stressing that enhanced cooperation is vital to safeguarding ASEAN communities. 

It further underscores the “determination to address transnational crimes that threaten peace, security, and public order.”

The declaration establishes APAGM as an ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Body and creates a senior officials’ meeting to support its work. 

Among its objectives are strengthening prosecutorial cooperation, enhancing capacity-building programs, sharing best practices, and engaging ASEAN Dialogue Partners on criminal justice matters.

In addition to setting up permanent structures for dialogue, the document emphasizes the importance of engaging other stakeholders in collective efforts against cross-border offenses. 

Furthermore, it affirms the need for decision-making “by consultation and consensus” among members.

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