The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed that about 59 Filipinos living abroad are currently on death row, primarily due to charges related to murder. This was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega during a statement to GMA News Online on Wednesday.
Countries Where They Are Detained
Undersecretary De Vega explained that most of these Filipinos are in countries like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Some of these nations have an informal moratorium on carrying out the death penalty, which gives hope for possible interventions.
“In countries like Saudi Arabia, we continue to explore ways to secure pardons for these individuals by appealing to the families of those they were accused of harming,” De Vega shared.
Mary Jane Veloso’s Case Brings Renewed Attention
One high-profile case is that of Mary Jane Veloso, a 39-year-old Filipina domestic worker who spent over a decade on death row in Indonesia for alleged drug trafficking. Mary Jane recently returned to the Philippines and is now appealing for clemency.
“I want to be freed. I want clemency because I am innocent,” Mary Jane stated in Filipino, hoping the government would recognize her plea.
Malacañang Yet to Decide
While her case has drawn national attention, Malacañang clarified that no decision has been made yet regarding whether she will be granted executive clemency.
“There has been no decision made yet,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, leaving her fate uncertain for now.
The Government’s Efforts
The DFA continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Filipinos facing severe punishments abroad. Negotiations, legal assistance, and outreach to affected families remain crucial parts of their efforts to ensure fair treatment and to seek clemency wherever possible.
The cases serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by overseas Filipino workers, emphasizing the importance of support from the Philippine government and the global Filipino community.
