Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo on Monday, March 20, urged Philippine embassies in Muslim-majority countries to intercede on behalf of convicted overseas Filipinos, especially those facing the death penalty, this holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, the lawmaker likewise called on the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to assist the embassies in asking for pardon or commutation of sentences of convicts.

“Ramadan, which begins on March 22, is a time of mercy and compassion. It is an opportune time for Muslim majority countries to exercise these virtues by showing leniency to Filipinos who are incarcerated,” Salo said.

As chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, he noted how leaders of Muslim-majority countries tend to extend clemency during the holy month.

According to the report by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are a total of 83 Filipinos overseas on death row, with 56 in Malaysia; six in United Arab Emirates (UAE); five in Saudi Arabia; one in Indonesia; and 15 from other countries such as Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, United States, Japan, and Brunei.

There are also a total of 1,267 overseas Filipinos currently detained, with 914 in Middle Eastern countries; 321 in the Asia Pacific; 23 in Europe; five in America; and four in Africa.

Historically, heads of state in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen have marked the Islamic holy month of Ramadan by extending clemency to prisoners facing death sentence by granting pardons or commuting their sentences through the intercession of embassies.

In 2018, The Emir of Qatar granted a royal pardon to 25 Filipinos who were charged with various offenses in the country, Salo’s statement shared.

This was done in a gesture marking the end of Ramadan.

“We have to exhaust all means to save the lives and reclaim the liberties of our overseas Filipinos. Let us appeal to the merciful hearts of our Muslim brothers and sisters in this holy month of fasting,” Salo said.

He stressed that the embassies and NCMF must “act swiftly and intercede in behalf of our Kabayans who are in jail” and that embassies “must work closely with local authorities and the families of our overseas Filipinos to gather all necessary information to support their appeals for clemency.”

“I hope that this call to action will be heeded by Philippine embassies around the world, and that the government of Muslim majority countries will show mercy and compassion towards Filipinos during this holy month of Ramadan,” the envoy furthered.