Villar seeks probe on plight of Pinoys jailed abroad

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on the plight of Filipinos in overseas jails.In Resolution No. 189, Villar is urging the committees on labor and employment and on foreign relations to jointly find out the condition of detained Filipinos in different countries to be able to formulate remedial measures and devise a package of assistance to protect them.

“An assessment of the legal and social remedies being afforded by our embassies and consular offices to our kababayans detained abroad for various offenses is imperative to ascertain sufficiency of assistance for the protection of OFWs," Villar explained.Sen. Loren Legarda also called on the government to make sure OFWs facing legal troubles, especially those who have been sentenced to die, in overseas jails are given appropriate attention.

Legarda stressed that while justice must be afforded to all crime victims, justice must also be accorded to accused and convicted OFWs by way of ensuring they have ample legal representation abroad.

"Our concern is for all OFWs in trouble to be afforded due process in their host countries. This is a basic responsibility of the state to its citizens, wherever they may be," Legarda said.

In as much as OFWs in trouble are punished under the laws of other countries, Legarda said that the Philippine government can always appeal for humanitarian consideration for OFWs facing the death sentence.

"Sadly, the queue of OFWs to the gallows is getting longer. As a country which has abolished the death sentence, the Philippines should exert efforts to appeal for commutation of their sentence," she said.

At present, two more Filipino women in Kuwait are on the list of OFWs on death row.Legarda said she would make representations with other Middle East countries, like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to get more compassionate sentence for the two Filipinas.In his recent visit to the Middle East, Villar learned that more than 5,000 Filipinos are in prison for various cases ranging from theft to violations of illegal entry and similar immigration laws and serious criminal offenses which can be considered acts of self-defense in countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

He added that a number of Filipinos are victims of internal rebellion and civil strife as documented in countries such as Nigeria and Iraq.

“A comprehensive strategy that will strengthen legal assistance being provided by our attaches and other legal and social remedies provided by our foreign service officials must be made including coordination efforts with various governments of other countries," Villar said. - GMANews.TV

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