In conjunction with Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN this year, I had the distinct honour of meeting with His Excellency Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, Secretary of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines, and His Excellency Raul T. Vasquez, Undersecretary at the Department of Justice, in Manila. I was accompanied at this bilateral meeting by His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of the Philippines, along with senior officials from the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia.
We had a productive discussion lasting over an hour, covering several key issues in the law and justice sector. These included strengthening the use of alternative dispute resolution—particularly arbitration and mediation—across ASEAN, enhancing access to legal aid for children, and deepening collaboration on legal and institutional reforms.
I took keen interest in two important initiatives under the Philippines Department of Justice: the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) and the Committee for the Special Protection of Children. These programmes reflect the Philippines’ commitment to expanding the use of non-litigious dispute resolution mechanisms and safeguarding the rights of children in conflict with the law.
There is much potential for greater collaboration between Malaysia and the Philippines in these areas. I am pleased to share that, following our bilateral discussion, both sides have agreed to advance cooperation in the field of law and justice.
We also additionally discussed the Philippines Office of the Ombudsman as Malaysia—through the dedicated efforts of the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department—is working toward establishing Ombudsman Malaysia this year.
It was insightful to learn that the Philippines Ombudsman is a powerful and independent constitutional body, free from political interference. This institutional independence strengthens its credibility and authority, enabling it to investigate even high-ranking officials without fear or favour. With broad investigative powers and security of tenure—removal only being possible through constitutional impeachment—the Ombudsman plays a vital role in promoting accountability, transparency, and the rule of law. These are valuable safeguards that ensure public institutions operate independently and remain answerable to the people. More information about the Ombudsman can be found here: https://www.ombudsman.gov.ph.
I look forward to meeting with the Philippines Commission on Human Rights next, another independent and vital institution mandated to uphold and protect human rights. We hope to learn more about the institutional safeguards and powers that support its work, as we consider similar reforms to strengthen Malaysia’s own human rights infrastructure.
At the conclusion of my meeting with His Excellency the Secretary of Justice, I had the pleasure of formally extending an invitation to him and senior officials of the Department of Justice to attend the ASEAN Law Forum 2025, to be held this August in Kuala Lumpur. We hope this platform will enable us to further deepen regional discussions on enhancing the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms through a Joint Ministerial Statement, reinforcing our shared commitment to accessible, fair, and efficient justice systems across ASEAN.
