Rep. Ron P. Salo of Kabayan party-list group is asking the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to heighten efforts in seeking executive clemency for Filipino workers convicted of crimes in Muslim countries as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.
Salo, chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, said that the conclusion of Ramadan, a period of sacrifice, reflection, forgiveness, and renewal in the Islamic faith, presents a favorable time for seeking pardon.
“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.
Data from the DFA as of March 2023 reveals a critical situation: 83 overseas Filipinos are on death row, while 1,267 are detained, with the majority of these cases in 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, the Salo believes that such gestures of goodwill align with the values of compassion and forgiveness emphasized during the holy month.
He also called for a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including other government agencies such as the DMW, OWWA and Commission on Filipinos Overseas, non-government organizations, and the families of the convicted individuals, to support the DFA in its effort to secure the release, or at least commutation of sentence for the convicted Filipinos in Muslim countries.
“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 added.