KABAYAN Partylist Rep. Ron Salo seeks close monitoring of the death cases of OFWs to ensure that justice will be served.
The Department of Foreign Affairs revealed the 27 reported deaths of Overseas Filipino Workers involving foul play for over 10 years.
Based on the records, eight (8) OFWs died in Saudi Arabia, five (5) in South Africa, four (4) in Kuwait, and three (3) in Cyprus.
“It has now become more evident that the cases of Jullebee Ranara, Joanna Demafelis, and Jeanelyn Villavende are not isolated, and this is unacceptable”, KABAYAN Partylist Rep. Ron Salo emphasized.
He added that the government should have more concrete direction in ensuring justice, competent lawyers should handle this issue and close monitoring should be done.
“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 said.
Rep. Salo believes that the conviction of the perpetrators will lessen and prevent future employers of OFWs to do the same for they know that the Philippine government has proper actions on the said cases.
As of now, the Department of Foreign Affairs provides legal and financial assistance to the family of OFWs who died from foul play.
Rep. Salo noted that the family should always be updated on the status of the cases and should know that the government is closely working on it.
“An attack on our countrymen overseas is also an attack on our country; we need to do everything in our power to make sure that the perpetrators are punished accordingly,” Rep. Salo said.
