MANILA – A party-list lawmaker has called for stronger legal protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following the recent execution of a Filipino national in Saudi Arabia. The call highlights ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of OFWs:A party-list lawmaker has called for stronger legal protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following the recent execution of a Filipino national in Saudi Arabia. The call highlights ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of OFWs, particularly those facing severe legal challenges abroad.
According to Philippines News Agency, OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino expressed “deep sorrow and regret” over the execution and stressed the urgent need for enhanced legal support for Filipinos working overseas. Magsino emphasized that the incident underscores the critical need for OFWs to receive adequate legal representation and support, especially in cases involving capital punishment. “As representative of the OFW sector, I am steadfast in the OFW party-list’s
commitment to push for stronger protections for our migrant workers, to guarantee their rights, and to strengthen diplomatic efforts to safeguard their welfare,” she stated. This includes enhanced legal aid and preventive programs to educate OFWs about the laws and customs of their host countries.
Magsino also urged the government to investigate the factors contributing to the increasing number of OFWs on death row and to continue improving the assistance provided to those involved in legal issues. The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the execution through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, although there has been “no official confirmation from Saudi authorities” as of the report. The embassy’s Chargé d’affaires, Rommel Romato, noted that the Saudi government carried out the execution without prior notification to the embassy or the family of the deceased, in accordance with local procedures. The individual was sentenced to qisas, or retribution, for the killing of a Saudi national.
Furthermore, Romat
o disclosed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had written to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in an attempt to save the Filipino’s life, underscoring the government’s efforts to intervene.