THE number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on death row in various countries has decreased to 25, following reforms in Malaysia, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated that death penalty cases involving OFWs worldwide have fallen from approximately 50 to 60 earlier this year. He noted that the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur had been actively seeking leniency for Filipinos in light of Malaysia’s new sentencing rules.
“We’re working very hard. This is the behind-the-scenes work not seen by the public, in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Office of the President. (Marcos) is very concerned with death row cases,” Cacdac told the Senate during a budget hearing. He added that efforts are ongoing to “hold the executions at bay” and secure commutations or acquittals for OFWs facing capital punishment.
The Malaysian government’s repeal of its mandatory death penalty in 2023 has led to a significant reduction in its imposition, according to Amnesty International. Cacdac also reported that the DMW is currently handling 1,106 active and pending cases involving OFWs, with the majority of these cases located in the Middle East. Around 116 Filipino workers have been convicted of various crimes overseas.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed his support for increased legal aid funding for OFWs, highlighting the current ratio of lawyers to OFWs, which stands at approximately one to 90,000. Despite the DMW’s request for P2.4 billion for its legal assistance and action fund, only P1.2 billion was allocated. The DMW is aiming to increase the number of retained law firms by 50 percent and in-house lawyers by 100 percent in the coming year.
