Senators push for aid to jailed OFWs

Several senators on Wednesday called on the government to rigorously monitor and extend aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who are currently detained abroad amid the return of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines.

In a statement, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the primary function of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and all embassies and consulates abroad is to make OFWs "feel the long arm of government to protect and shield them whenever they need help."

"Let this also be a wake-up call for all of us to focus on the plight of similarly situated Filipinos... We should, therefore, ask the DFA - as I am now asking them - to inventory and make an accounting of Filipinos who are incarcerated in a foreign country… the nature of the cases against them. What has or can be done to help them regain their liberty," Escudero said.

"How we can assist to make their detention, in the meantime, more bearable. To check with their families here if they are alright and how we can help them visit and see their loved one deprived of their liberty abroad," he added.

He then mentioned the need to explore a treaty on "prisoner swap" for the service of sentences of convicted Filipinos overseas in their own country.

Senate foreign relations committee chairperson Imee Marcos also raised the need for a treaty providing for the transfer of Filipinos who are serving sentences in other countries.

"Paulit-ulit at masidhi kong itinutulak yung transfer of sentenced person sa ibang bansa, 'yung mga Pilipino na napapatawan ng kaso at nakukulong, kung maaari meron tayong kasunduan o kaya treaty doon sa iba’t ibang bansa," she said in an interview.

"Dito na lamang sa Pilipinas sila mag-serve ng kanilang parusa kasi kahit papaano malaking bahagi ng ating sistema ay yung tinatawag na rehabilitation na kung maari may second chance pa 'yung nagkamali," she added.

In a separate statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said Veloso's plight "serves as a constant reminder of the need to strengthen measures to protect our  OFWs from falling prey to exploitation and illegal activities and to extend support to those wrongfully implicated or unjustly punished."

Senator Joel Villanueva also called on the DFA and DMW to continue to monitor the cases of Filipinos who are detained abroad and ensure that they receive necessary assistance from the government,  noting that there are 49 OFWs who are currently on death row.

"This could also pave the way for our concerned government agencies to explore legal and diplomatic options, including possible commutation of sentence and allowing them to serve their sentence in the Philippines," he said.

Senate migrant workers committee chairman Raffy Tulfo said the Philippine government's effort should not stop on Veloso's case.

"Ang pangyayaring ito ay paalala rin na dapat nating ipagpatuloy at mas paigtingin pa ang pagmomonitor at pagtutok sa kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa para masiguro na wala ni isa sa kanila ang malalagay sa panganib," he said.

Earlier in the day, Veloso arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via a Cebu Pacific commercial flight early Wednesday morning after more than a decade of detention in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

Veloso was transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City where she is expected to be in quarantine in the first five days and undergo orientation and security evaluation for the next 55 days before being detained in a regular cell.

Veloso’s camp has appealed to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos to grant her clemency following an agreement that would allow her to return to the Philippines.

In an interview before departing Indonesia Tuesday, Veloso expressed hope that she will be given clemency.—LDF, GMA Integrated News