DMW: Overseas Filipino workers on death row down to 25

A total of 25 out of the 116 convicted overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are on death row, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported to the Senate finance committee.

According to Mav Gonzales' report Tuesday on Unang Balita, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the number of OFWs on death row had decreased after Malaysia implemented a new policy.

"Naging flexible sila in terms of commuting the sentences of our death row cases, at nag-apply po ang ating embahada doon. So, it used to be in the neighborhood of 50 to 60, but now we're down to 25," Cacdac said.

(Malaysia's terms have been flexible in terms of commuting the sentences of our death row cases, so our embassy applied for it. So, it used to be in the neighborhood of 50 to 60, but now we're down to 25.)

He added that the DMW has been working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the President to keep the executions at bay, seek commutation, or acquit the convicted OFWs.

Senator Win Gatchalian proposed to increase DMW's manpower of lawyers, noting that the agency has 23 legal retainers and 10 in-house lawyers compared to almost 3 million OFWs.

Cacdac replied that the DMW also taps law firms, which assign about three or four lawyers for OFW cases.

In a statement, DMW said it not only provides legal aid, providing psychological, moral, and financial assistance to the families of affected OFWs, but also continues to improve its pre-departure orientation and legal literacy programs to prevent similar cases in the future.

"Every OFW is a part of our global Filipino family. We will continue to stand by them, fight for their rights, and seek justice and compassion wherever possible," Cacdac said in the statement.

In November last year, the number of overseas Filipinos on death row was placed at 44 or higher, based on Senate plenary deliberations on the DMW's proposed 2025 budget. 

Of that number, 41 were in Malaysia, two in Brunei, and one in Saudi Arabia. — VDV, GMA Integrated News