"Our country’s accession to the Budapest Convention is a most welcome development in our efforts to effectively combat the global menace of cybercrimes."

         - Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre

The Senate, on 19 February 2018, concurred with the accession of the Philippines to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The Instrument of Accession for the Budapest Convention was signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in December 2016.

The Philippines will join 56 other countries as party to the Convention. The Budapest Convention provides the needed mechanisms for the eradication of cybercrimes by facilitating their detection, investigation, and prosecution at both the domestic and international levels, and by providing arrangements for rapid and reliable international cooperation.

“Our accession to the Convention will level the playing field between the Philippines and foreign counterparts in pursuing a common criminal policy aimed at the protection of society against cybercrimes. Indeed, it is a most welcome development. Thank you President Duterte and thank you to the Senators who supported this milestone undertaking,” said Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II.

One of the main features of the Convention is the establishment of Central Authorities which will enable State-parties to ensure the provision of immediate assistance for investigation and prosecution of cybercrime and/or cyber-related cases, or for the collection of electronic evidence which may be situated anywhere in the world.

Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 designated the Department of Justice,  Office of Cybercrime as the Central Authority in all matters related to international mutual assistance and extradition for cybercrime and cyber-related cases.