Senator Raffy Tulfo commended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for facilitating the pardon of three convicted overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the latter’s appeal to UAE President Sheikh Mohamend Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers noted two of the OFWs are already in death row and are scheduled to be executed while one was facing a 15-year prison term.
"I would like to extend my congratulations to our President Bongbong Marcos Jr. in his successful engagement with the UAE government,” Tulfo said in a statement.
“I am also very grateful to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for this good news," the senator added.
Tulfo also commended the combined efforts and diplomatic relationship between Marcos and Al Nahyan, saying this proves that dialogue between world leaders have greater impact to the benefit of the people they serve.
Malacañang earlier disclosed that Marcos submitted two letters to Al Nahyan in late April to plead for the release of the three OFWs.
Likewise, Tulfo extended his gratitude to UAE Ambassador to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Alqataam Alzaabi, whom he personally met last month, for facilitating the exchange between the two leaders.
Alzaabi, the senator said, also confirmed UAE’s commitment to uphold the rights and protect the welfare of more than 600,000 Filipinos working in the Gulf state.
Other senators who also commended the Marcos administration's efforts on the three OFWs were Sen. Robinhood "Robin" Padilla and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.