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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Timing is everything: Ramadan a good time for DFA to seek clemency for overseas Pinoys on death row, says solon

Timing is everything: Ramadan a good time for DFA to seek clemency for overseas Pinoys on death row, says solon

Published Apr 2, 2024 08:57 am

At A Glance

  • The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), must step up efforts in seeking executive clemency for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) convicted of crimes, as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo said.
  • Salo, chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, notes that the conclusion of Ramadan presents a favorable time for seeking pardon since it is a period of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal in the Islamic faith.
  • The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says 83 overseas Filipinos are on death row, while 1,267 are detained. The majority of these cases are from the Middle East and Muslim countries. 

Mentally ill man held for stealing vehicle in Nueva Vizcaya(Unsplash)

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), must step up efforts in seeking executive clemency for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) convicted of crimes, as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.

This, as Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairman, notes that the conclusion of Ramadan presents a favorable time for seeking pardon since it is a period of reflection, forgiveness, and renewal in the Islamic faith.

“As Ramadan nears its end, we urge the DFA and Philippine Embassies in Muslim countries to make the necessary representation and actively intercede on behalf of our kababayans who are facing sentences abroad,” Salo said in a statement Tuesday, April 2.

Data from the DFA as of March 2023 reveals a critical situation: 83 overseas Filipinos are on death row, while 1,267 are detained.

The majority of these cases are from the Middle East and Muslim countries.

Highlighting the traditional acts of royal clemency by Muslim leaders during Ramadan, which include the commutation of sentences or complete pardons, Salo said that such gestures of goodwill align with the values of compassion and forgiveness emphasized during the holy month.

The OFW rights advocate also called for a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including other government agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Commission on Filipinos Overseas, non-government organizations, and the families of the convicted individuals, to support the DFA in its diplomatic endeavors.

“It is a collective effort that requires the support and prayers of our entire nation. We stand in solidarity with our overseas Filipinos and their families during this challenging time, hoping for their eventual return to our home,” Salo concluded.

Related Tags

executive clemency ron Salo Ramadan
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