Supreme Court E-Library
Information At Your Fingertips

December 17, 1998

Proceeding from the aspiration to further strengthen friendly relations and multi-faceted cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to contribute to the promotion of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world;

Cognizant of the principle of respect for the independence, sovereignty, integrity and non-interference in internal affairs; and

Recognizing the significance and mutual benefit of the two States in the establishment of co-operative relations on prevention and fight against criminal activities;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

On the basis of the laws and regulations in force in the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Parties shall cooperate with each other to prevent and fight against the following criminal activities:

1. Illicit trading and trafficking of weapons, military technical equipment, explosives, toxic chemicals, inflammable substances and radioactive materials;

2. Illicit manufacturing and trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and essential chemicals;

3. Kidnapping or trafficking of women and children;

4. Terrorism;

5. International smuggling;

6. Money laundering;

7. Making and circulating of counterfeit money and documents;

8. Illegal migration; and

9. Such other criminal activities as may be jointly decided by both Parties from time to time.

ARTICLE 2

In order to implement Article 1 of this Agreement, the Parties shall carry out the cooperation with the following modes:

1. Exchange of information, documents and expertise on the activities provided in Article 1. The Parties commit themselves to the confidentiality of the contents of classified information and documents exchanged.

The exchanged information and documents shall not be transferred to a third Party without the consent in writing of the supplying Party.

2. The Parties shall always coordinate in planning and carrying out the measures to prevent and fight against criminal activities provided in Article 1.

ARTICLE 3

Each Party shall ensure that its territory will not be utilized by any individual or organization for carrying out activities which are detrimental to national security, social order and safety of the other Party.

ARTICLE 4

The Parties shall carry out cooperation in such areas as: research, personnel training, exchange of studies, and in the organization of and participation in international seminars and workshops.

ARTICLE 5

The Parties shall send delegations to visit each other and exchange expertise about operations on prevention and fight against criminal activities and to discuss the implementation of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 6

The expenses on international travel of delegations for working visits, study tours, exchange of experiences, studies, participation in conferences, seminars, etc. under this Agreement shall be borne by the sending Party. Expenses for accommodation, food and internal transport for the visiting delegations shall be borne by the receiving Party.

ARTICLE 7

For the purposes of the implementation of this Agreement there shall be designated an Implementing Agency. The Implementing Agency for the Republic of the Philippines shall be the Department of Interior and Local Government and for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall be the Ministry of Public Security.

ARTICLE 8

Any dispute between the Parties arising out of the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled by consultations or negotiations.

ARTICLE 9

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later written notification by the Parties, through diplomatic channels, indicating that the domestic requirements for its entry into force have been complied with.

ARTICLE 10

Any amendment or revision to the text of this Agreement shall be done by mutual consent of the Parties. This amendment or revision shall enter into force in accordance with Article 9 of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 11

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless one Party officially notifies the other Party, through diplomatic channels, of its desire to suspend or terminate this Agreement. In such a case, the Agreement shall remain valid until thirty (30) days after the date on which one Party receives an official notification from the other Party expressing the desire of the latter to suspend or terminate the validity of this Agreement.

In witness whereof, the duly authorized representatives of the Parties have affixed their signatures thereto.

Done at Hanoi, on 17th day of December 1998 in four original texts, two each in the Vietnamese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence between any of the texts of this Agreement, the English text shall prevail.

Entry into Force: August 31, 1999