Migrante: OFW Dalquez's case a lesson; gov't must review policy

Migrante International on Friday underscored that the case of Jennifer Dalquez, the Filipina who has been acquitted of murder charges in United Arab Emirates, should serve as an inspiration and a lesson in addressing maltreatment cases against Filipinos working abroad.

"Sa atin sana bukod sa inspirasyon, makakuha tayo ng aral sa kaso ni Jennifer. Makita sana natin ano 'yung mga best practices, ano 'yung mga dapat nating gawin para 'yung mga kababayan natin sa ibayong-dagat ay hindi na mabitay pa at wala nang Pilipinong aalipinin sa ibayong-dagat," Arman Hernando, Migrante spokesman, said at a press conference.

Hernando urged President Rodrigo Duterte to review the existing policies on exporting Filipino workers so that their rights would be recognized and abuses against them avoided.

"Gusto natin ipanawagan kay Pangulong Duterte na i-review 'yung labor export program, reviewhin 'yung mga programa na magbibigay assistance na kikilala sa mga karapatan ng Migrante," Hernando said.

"Mahalaga para sa atin na maging kritikal at i-pinpoint ano ang mga pagkukulang at ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, alamin ang pinag-uugatan bakit may mga kababayan tayo na inaapi at nakakaranas ng kawalan ng hustisya," he added.

According to Hernando, some 70 OFWs are still on the death row in various countries due to murder and drug-related cases. 

"'Yan ay statistics, ang alam natin murder ang marami at drug-related charges, 'yun 'yung inaabot pa ng ating kaalaman." 

Early this morning, Dalquez returned home after she was spared from death row in UAE.

Dalquez was  sentenced to death in 2015 after she was found guilty of murdering her employer but the court acquitted her in 2017, without asking for diyyah or payment of blood money.

On December 12, 2014, Dalquez was arrested after stabbing to death her employer whom she claimed had tried to rape her at knife-point.

She was released from jail last Thursday. —Anna Felicia Bajo/LBG, GMA News