The Philippine Secretary of Justice sat down with NHK on Thursday for an exclusive interview on the transfer of four men suspected of involvement in a robbery spree in Japan.

Jesus Crispin Remulla highlighted his government's efforts to cooperate with the Japanese side, while pledging to reform its immigration bureau whose officials allegedly committed bribery.

He said his government wanted to repatriate the suspects as early as possible, ahead of a planned visit to Japan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from Thursday.

Remulla said, "It's embarrassing for us for this to happen. But I'm relieved that at least we were able to deliver what has to be delivered."

The minister noted that Manila extradited two of the suspects within 11 days of Japan's request, describing the speed of the transfer as an achievement.

Meanwhile, at an immigration facility where the four suspects were detained, officials are suspected of receiving bribes and allowing the inmates to freely use mobile phones.

The minister stressed that the Immigration Bureau is in need of reform.

Remulla said, "It's a wake-up call because it is possible to change things, but we just have to have the political will to do it." He added that the government intends to modernize the organization within three years.