Section 23Sec./Art. 23

A new Section 26-A is hereby inserted into Republic Act No. 9208, to read as follows:

"SEC. 26-A. Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction. The State shall exercise jurisdiction over any act defined and penalized under this Act, even if committed outside the Philippines and whether or not such act or acts constitute an offense at the place of commission, the crime being a continuing offense, having been commenced in the Philippines and other elements having been committed in another country, if the suspect or accused:

"(a) Is a Filipino citizen; or

"(b) Is a permanent resident of the Philippines; or

"(c) Has committed the act against a citizen of the Philippines.

"No prosecution may be commenced against a person under this section if a foreign government, in accordance with jurisdiction recognized by the Philippines, has prosecuted or is prosecuting such person for the conduct constituting such offense, except upon the approval of the Secretary of Justice.

"The government may surrender or extradite persons accused of trafficking in the Philippines to the appropriate international court if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties."