Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando expressed hope that one act of wrongdoing in Singapore won't tarnish the good name of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all over the world.

San Fernando was reacting to the case of domestic worker Raguindin Bassig, who, upon deeper reflection, made him lament the difficulties that Filipino workers face each day.

"We respect the judicial process and legal proceedings of Singapore, and wrongdoing must certainly be matched with corresponding penalties," San Fernando said over the weekend.

"This incident, however, brings to light the deep systemic realities that continue to push millions of Filipinos to seek employment abroad under highly vulnerable conditions," said the House minority bloc member.

Bassig, 47, an OFW in Singapore, was sentenced to three years and two months in jail earlier this month after pleading guilty to two counts of theft by a servant.

It was reported that, in a period of over four years, she took US$168,000 worth of cash and jewellery from her employer. Bassig allegedly used the loot to buy condominium units, cars, and land back home in the Philippines.

"Every year, thousands of our workers, predominantly women, leave their families to take on demanding, live-in domestic roles overseas, often working under intense isolation, long hours, and severe socioeconomic pressure," San Fernando noted.

"We must not sensationalize and allow singular cases of wrongdoing to overshadow or detract from the honest, dignified, and indispensable labor provided by the vast majority of our [OFWs], who keep both foreign households and our national economy afloat," he stressed.

The neophyte congressman said the case serves as a stark reminder of "why we must aggressively pursue genuine economic development and dignified, living wage jobs here at home".

"Our ultimate goal must always be to build a society where working abroad is a voluntary choice, not a desperate necessity forced by poverty," said San Fernando.

The pro-worker party-list solon further said: "We remain committed to pushing for stronger labor protections (both bilateral and in compliance with international labor conventions), robust oversight, and comprehensive reintegration programs that safeguard the welfare, dignity, and rights of all Filipino workers, wherever they may be in the world."

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) bared that as of early 2026, there were about 1.8 million OFWs deployed worldwide.

However, recent conflicts in the Middle East caused a sharp 45 percent drop in deployments in the first quarter compared to 2025. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain the top destinations, though both saw significant declines.