DMW: Some 60 OFWs on death row
‘His lawyer in Riyadh was good. Rest assured we will further strengthen our legal assistance programs because this is the clear direction of our President — to provide protection and assistance to OFWs, those facing legal cases, especially those who committed no wrongdoing, like in this case.’
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.
Photo by ARAM LASCANO FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE
Around 60 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are on death row abroad, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac on Thursday said the majority of OFWs facing capital punishment are in Malaysia, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We have around 60 all over the world. Majority are in Malaysia, and second would be Saudi,” Cacdac said.
The DMW recently secured the release of an OFW from Mindanao who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.
The worker was convicted on 10 September 2024 for possession of illegal drugs. According to Cacdac, the OFW was acquitted in January, but it took some time before he was repatriated to the country.
He arrived in the Philippines on 10 June and met with DMW officials the following day.
“His lawyer in Riyadh was good. Rest assured we will further strengthen our legal assistance programs because this is the clear direction of our President — to provide protection and assistance to OFWs, those facing legal cases, especially those who committed no wrongdoing, like in this case,” Cacdac said.
Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty in 2023, giving judges the option to impose life sentences.
Cacdac said they are working with Malaysia on a case-by-case basis to have the death sentences imposed on Filipinos there commuted to life imprisonment.