US-Philippines Letter of Agreement (LOA) on Narcotics Control

Chancery of the Manila American Embassy. Offic...
An April 19, 2011 press release by the Department of Foriegn Affairs
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and United States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas, Jr. signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement at the Department of Foreign Affairs today.
Witnessing the signing were Justice Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy and officials from the DFA, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the U.S. Embassy.
This agreement is designed to enhance the Philippines’ capability to improve prosecutorial training, improve the operation of the criminal justice system, strengthen police-prosecutor cooperation and support better use of existing criminal procedure tools.
The program will be implemented over a 12-month period, subject to renewal with the concurrence of both parties.
Under the LOA, the U.S. will provide funding assistance for the Philippine Justice Sector Reform Program.
“The agreement is another headway in Philippine-United States relations which affirms the Aquino administration’s resolve to promote the rule of law and address the scourge of illegal narcotics trade and trafficking,” Secretary del Rosario said.
For his part, Ambassador Thomas said that “the Philippine government’s efforts in law enforcement and narcotics control deserve strong support, especially since overseas Filipino workers have become prey to perpetrators of the illegal drugs trade.”

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