The number of overseas Filipino workers facing execution abroad has fallen to 25, down from 50 to 60 earlier this year, government officials said Tuesday, crediting diplomatic pushback and sentencing changes in key host countries.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced the decline in a news release, vowing unwavering support for the condemned Filipinos. “Every OFW is a part of our global Filipino family. We will continue to stand by them, fight for their rights, and seek justice and compassion wherever possible,” he said.
The drop comes amid persistent Philippine advocacy and a landmark legal shift in Malaysia, where many Filipinos work. In July 2023, Malaysia scrapped its mandatory death penalty for certain grave offenses under the Mandatory Death Penalty Act, granting judges discretion in capital cases.
Under the reformed law, courts can now opt for prison terms of 30 to 40 years, plus at least 12 lashes of the whip, instead of automatic execution. The changes also opened reviews for existing death sentences, including those involving Filipino nationals.
Cacdac highlighted the government’s “sustained diplomatic engagements” as a key factor, noting Malaysia’s overhaul “significantly reduced its death row population.”
The Department of Migrant Workers is collaborating closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the president’s office to safeguard the rights of the remaining 25 workers. That includes ensuring due process, access to skilled lawyers and chances for mercy or reduced sentences.
Support extends beyond courtrooms. The agency offers psychological counseling, spiritual guidance and financial aid to the workers’ families back home, Cacdac said.
To head off future tragedies, the department is ramping up pre-deployment briefings for outbound workers and legal education campaigns. “These cases remind us of the importance of empowering our workers with knowledge and support,” he added. “We remain committed to protecting every Filipino abroad — not only in times of success, but especially in times of hardship.”
The Philippines, which sends millions of workers overseas annually to fuel its economy, has long battled to shield its citizens from harsh foreign justice systems. More than 10 million Filipinos live and work abroad, often in high-risk jobs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
