Manila, Sept. 3 -- The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday launched a motu proprio inquiry to review and amend Presidential Decree 1069, or the Philippine Extradition Law of 1977, citing the need to update the country's extradition framework in light of rising cross-border crimes and recent high-profile cases.

Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the panel, said the inquiry seeks to modernize a law that has served the Philippines for nearly five decades but is now showing its age.

"Extradition is an indispensable tool in the global fight against impunity. It ensures that our country will never be a haven for fugitives or an obstacle to justice sought by our treaty partners," Luistro said in her opening statement.

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