ANTI-TRAFFICKING

TOPIC: TERRITORIALITY AND EXTRATERRITORIALITY

Republic Act No. 9208 - Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003

Section 26. Extradition. – The DOJ, in consultation with DFA, shall endeavor to include offenses of trafficking in persons among extraditable offenses.

amended by:

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10364 - Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012

SEC. 23. A new Section 26-A is hereby inserted into Republic Act No. 9208, to read as follows:

“SEC. 26-A. Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction. – The State shall exercise jurisdiction over any act defined and penalized under this Act, even if committed outside the Philippines and whether or not such act or acts constitute an offense at the place of commission, the crime being a continuing offense, having been commenced in the Philippines and other elements having been committed in another country, if the suspect or accused:

“(a) Is a Filipino citizen; or

“(b) Is a permanent resident of the Philippines; or

“(c) Has committed the act against a citizen of the Philippines.

“No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this section if a foreign government, in accordance with jurisdiction recognized by the Philippines, has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting such offense, except upon the approval of the Secretary of Justice.

“The government may surrender or extradite persons accused of trafficking in the Philippines to the appropriate international court if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties.”

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11479 - The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10175 - CYBERCRIME PREVENTION ACT OF 2012

CHAPTER V
JURISDICTION

SEC. 21. Jurisdiction. — The Regional Trial Court shall have jurisdiction over any violation of the provisions of this Act. including any violation committed by a Filipino national regardless of the place of commission. Jurisdiction shall lie if any of the elements was committed within the Philippines or committed with the use of any computer system wholly or partly situated in the country, or when by such commission any damage is caused to a natural or juridical person who, at the time the offense was committed, was in the Philippines.

There shall be designated special cybercrime courts manned by specially trained judges to handle cybercrime cases.