Cayetano backs 6 global pacts to protect Filipinos, expand opportunities
From wider education opportunities to safer international flights, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has backed six foreign relations measures that could benefit Filipinos here and abroad.
The resolutions, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and which underwent plenary interpellations on September 1, 2026, seek the Senate’s concurrence in international pacts covering aviation safety, space liability, taxation, higher education, extradition, and legal cooperation against crime.
Cayetano, a former Foreign Affairs secretary, said international agreements should advance Philippine interests while respecting the Constitution and domestic laws.
Among the measures he signed was the Proposed Senate Resolution No. 622 seeking Philippine accession to the 2014 Montreal Protocol, which strengthens rules against crimes and disruptive conduct aboard international flights.
The protocol would allow authorities in the country where an aircraft lands or its operator is based to act in defined cases.
PSR No. 625, meanwhile, covers the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, which would give the Philippines a treaty-based process to seek compensation if a space object causes death, injury, or damage to aircraft and property in the country.
To protect Filipino workers and businesses in Cambodia from being taxed twice on the same income, Cayetano signed PSR No. 628 on the Philippines-Cambodia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The treaty aims to provide clearer tax rules, prevent tax evasion, and encourage trade and investment between the two countries.
Consistent with his push to link education with employment, the Minority Leader signed PSR No. 626 signifying the Senate’s approval to the Tokyo Convention on education.
The treaty ensures university degrees, diplomas, and credits are evaluated fairly and transparently when students and workers move among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This will help Filipinos easily pursue further studies, training, or jobs abroad.
“I hope we can continue to work on more exchanges — more exchange students, more trips between Japan and the Philippines,” he said. “The Japanese people, the Japanese businessmen, can be not only a partner but a wise counselor and guide to the Philippines.”
Cayetano likewise supported PSR No. 623, or the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition, and PSR No. 624, covering the Philippines-India treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
The ASEAN treaty would establish a common framework for pursuing persons accused or convicted of crimes across the region, subject to legal safeguards.
The agreement with India, meanwhile, would allow both countries to assist each other in gathering evidence, serving legal documents, and tracing persons and assets linked to criminal cases.
Cayetano said cooperation against cross-border crime must observe due process and constitutional protections.
In March, he co-sponsored Senate Resolution No. 307, which sought to protect Filipinos from extrajudicial rendition and give them reasonable time to seek remedies from Philippine courts before being surrendered abroad.
“Everyone should be given due process,” Cayetano said. “If there’s a conflict between international law and our Constitution, our Constitution will prevail.”
Filipino Version
Cayetano suportado ang 6 global pacts para proteksyunan at palawakin ang oportunidad ng mga Pilipino
Suportado ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano ang anim na kasunduang magbibigay ng dagdag na proteksyon at oportunidad sa mga Pilipino sa loob at labas ng bansa.
Saklaw ng mga ito ang edukasyon, ligtas na biyahe sa eroplano, patas na pagbubuwis, pinsalang dulot ng space objects, extradition, at paglaban sa krimen.
Sumalang nitong September 1, 2026 sa interpellation sa plenaryo ng Senado ang anim resolusyon sa pangunguna ng sponsor nitong si Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, na layuning gawing opisyal ang pagsang-ayon ng Senado sa anim na international agreements.
Giit ni Cayetano, na dating Foreign Affairs Secretary, importanteng isulong sa pamamagitan ng mga kasunduang pandaigdig ang interes ng Pilipinas nang may paggalang sa Konstitusyon at mga batas ng bansa.
Kabilang sa nilagdaan niya ang Proposed Senate Resolution No. 622 para makasali ang Pilipinas sa 2014 Montreal Protocol.
Pinalalakas nito ang mga patakaran laban sa krimen at magulong asal sa international flights. Maaari nitong bigyan ng kapangyarihan ang mga awtoridad sa bansang nilapagan ng eroplano o kinaroroonan ng operator nito na umaksyon sa mga itinakdang kaso.
Sakop naman ng PSR No. 625 ang Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, na magbibigay sa Pilipinas ng paraan para humingi ng bayad-pinsala sakaling may masawi, masaktan, o mapinsalang ari-arian sa bansa dahil sa space object.
Upang maiwasan naman ang pagpapataw ng dobleng buwis sa kita ng mga manggagawa at negosyong Pilipino sa Cambodia, nilagdaan ni Cayetano ang PSR No. 628 o Philippines-Cambodia Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Nililinaw nito ang mga patakaran sa buwis, pinipigilan ang tax evasion, at hinihikayat ang kalakalan at pamumuhunan.
Para naman sa edukasyon, nilagdaan ni Cayetano ang PSR No. 626 na sumasang-ayon sa Tokyo Convention on education. Tinitiyak ng kasunduan ang patas at malinaw na evaluation sa university degrees, diploma, at school credits ng mga estudyante at manggagawang tumatawid ng ibang bansa sa loob ng Asia-Pacific region.
Makakatulong ito sa mga Pilipinong gustong magpatuloy ng pag-aaral, kumuha ng training, o maghanap ng trabaho sa ibang bansa.
“I hope we can continue to work on more exchanges — more exchange students, more trips between Japan and the Philippines,” pahayag ni Cayetano noong Hulyo. “The Japanese people, the Japanese businessmen, can be not only a partner but a wise counselor and guide to the Philippines.”
Sinuportahan din ni Cayetano ang PSR No. 623 o ASEAN Treaty on Extradition at ang PSR No. 624 para sa Philippines-India Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
Magtatakda ang ASEAN treaty ng iisang framework sa pagtugis sa mga taong akusado o nahatulan ng krimen sa rehiyon, alinsunod sa mga umiiral na batas para sa due process at karapatang-pantao.
Nagbibigay-daan naman ang kasunduan ng Pilipinas at India sa pagtutulungan ng dalawang bansa sa pagkuha ng ebidensya, paghahatid ng legal documents, at pagtunton sa mga tao at ari-ariang sangkot sa mga kasong kriminal.
Sa pagsuporta niya sa mga kasunduan laban sa cross-border crime, binigyang diin ni Cayetano na dapat pairalin ang due process at proteksyong nakasaad sa Konstitusyon.
Noong Marso, co-sponsor siya ng Senate Resolution No. 307 para protektahan ang mga Pilipino laban sa extrajudicial rendition. Binibigyan nito ang mga Pilipino ng sapat na panahon para lumapit sa mga korte ng Pilipinas bago isuko sa ibang bansa.
“Everyone should be given due process,” ani Cayetano. “If there’s a conflict between international law and our Constitution, our Constitution will prevail.”
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