Pacquiao seeks inventory of pending cases of OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - An inventory of pending cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the adoption of a protocol for prompt and efficient legal assistance to those detained and facing criminal charges are being sought at the House of Representatives.

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao made the call following a visit to death convict Mary Jane Veloso in Wirogunan Prison Facility in Yogyakarta, Indonesia last July 10.

The House committee on overseas workers affairs vice chairman learned from Veloso that she only had a court-appointed counsel from the time of her arrest on April 25, 2010 until the time she was sentenced to death on Oct. 11, 2010. 

In a letter, Pacquiao urged committee chairman Nicanor Briones to immediately hold a dialogue with concerned government officials to discuss the status of criminal cases against OFWs.

“It was only on Oct. 21, 2010 when our Philippine embassy in Jakarta hired a private counsel to assist her in her appeal,” read the letter. 

“I am informed that Ms. Veloso’s story is not isolated and has evolved to be a very disturbing pattern.

“If we can save other apprehended OFWs from suffering the same fate as Ms. Mary Jane Veloso, we would have truly fulfilled the mandate of our committee, as well as our bounden duty as representatives of our people.” 

In the same letter, Pacquiao asked the committee to invite officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Foreign Affairs, particularly the undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs, so they can present an inventory of all pending cases as of June 30, 2015 involving OFWs, especially those detained – whether they are still undergoing trial or already serving prison terms.

Sufficient funding for legal assistance to OFWs in distress abroad is vital, Pacquiao said.

Had Veloso and other OFWs in deep legal trouble abroad been provided with a private lawyer during their trial, the outcome of their cases would have been decided in their favor or, at the very least, a lighter penalty would have been meted out, he added.

Last Aug. 6, Pacquiao met with representatives of the Filipino community during a visit to Tokyo, Japan.