Solon irked by 27 OFW deaths via foul play over last 10 years

By Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo

A PARTY-list lawmaker on Monday expressed outrage over a Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) report revealing that 27 deaths of overseas Filipino workers in the last 10 years were caused by foul play.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday raised serious concern over the plight of some 2,000 Filipinos who became victims of human trafficking in Southeast Asia over the first two months of 2023.

At the same time, Rep. Ron Salo of the Kabayan party-list group called on concerned government agencies, through competent lawyers, to closely monitor the cases and ensure conviction of the perpetrators.

The deaths included eight in Saudi Arabia, five in South Africa, four in Kuwait, and three in Cyprus.

Salo, chair of the House’s Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, lamented that “it has now become more evident that the cases of Jullebee Ranara, Joanna Demafelis, and Jeanelyn Villavende are not isolated, and this is unacceptable.”

“This matter should deeply concern us Filipinos because it tells of the extreme risk to life that our overseas workers find themselves in while trying to make a decent living for their families,” he lamented.

Salo cited the need for government to take a more proactive direction to ensure that justice is swiftly served to the perpetrators, proposing that “we must engage competent lawyers to handle these cases and consistently monitor the process to ensure a successful prosecution and conviction of the perpetrators,” Salo explained.

“I have said this time and again—convictions of these criminals will deter future aggressors against our Kabayans, for they will know that our government is there to protect them,” Salo emphasized.