MANILA - Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera on Friday said it would be difficult to stop the impending transfer of murder convict Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga to Spain as part of a Philippines-Spain prisoner exchange treaty.

Devanadera said that in her experience as solicitor general, the nation usually gives importance to bilateral treaties such as the 2007 RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement. The justice chief issued the statement amid reports that the Chiong family is planning to file a motion before a Cebu Regional Trial Court to stop Larranaga's transfer.

Larrañaga and other scions of rich families in Cebu were convicted for the kidnapping, homicide and rape of the Chiong sisters in 1997. Under the prisoner exchange treaty, the Philippine government would extradite Larrañaga to Spain in exchange for two Filipino prisoners in Spanish jails.

Devanadera said she had a "mother-to-mother" talk with Thelma Chiong, mother of murder victims Jacqueline and Marijoy Chiong, last Tuesday. She said Mrs. Chiong did not mention any plan to question the treaty before a court.

The justice chief also allayed fears of the Chiong family that Larrañaga would be released upon his arrival in Spain. She said the convict cannot receive executive clemency in Spain since he was tried and convicted in a Philippine court.

She also said that the Chiong family received P750,000 in civil damages from Larrañaga.