Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Tuesday, January 17 urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to hire high-caliber lawyers for distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) facing charges abroad.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) during the public hearing of the Senate committee on migrant workers admitted on Tuesday that they recorded a low acquittal rate for OFWs facing legal cases from January to June last year.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo who presided over the public hearing and is also the chairman of the Senate migrant workers committee said that DFA should strengthen the legal assistance given by the government to OFWs.
“or mahina yung mga abogado nakuha ng ating DFA para idepensa yung ating mga Pilipino nationals na may problema sa abroad, sorry ah baka yung mga pipitsuging abogado ang nakuha niyo, hindi yung de kampanilya kaya zero acquittal lumilitaw” Tulfo pointed out.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega defended the agency, “the bottom line is they get legal representation kaysa wala”
This was not accepted by Senator Tulfo.
“Don’t say that, “kaysa wala” Dapat po kailangan na kailangan na magkaroon ng legal assistance ang sinumang Pilipino kasi kasama yan sa mandato ninyo na dapat kapag may Pilipino na in distress kailangan tulungan at gastusan. Dapat ang kukunin natin na abogado yung magagaling at yung alam na alam yung kaso, wag yung basta kukuha lang tayo ng abogado … dapat yung abogado na magaling at dekalibre na kayang ipanalo yung kaso” said Tulfo.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also questioned the report given by DFA. The senator also added that the situation is “unacceptable”
“This is not acceptable. These are facts. These are figures that we have on our hands. We wanted to find out ilan ‘yung na-acquit? Kung walang na-a-acquit what the hell are we doing here? We don’t even evaluate the things that we do,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva also asked DFA if the agency conducts post-service reviews for the accomplishment and performance of previously hired foreign and domestic lawyers representing OFWs.
De Vega said they are always in touch with DFA’s hired lawyers and will submit documents regarding the post-service reviews.
Meanwhile, Sen. Raffy Tulfo askedcooperation of fellow senators and concerning agencies for the smooth passage of three bills namely; Senate Bill No. (SBN) 969 or the Filipino Migrant Workers, SBN 1175 or Encouraging New Lawyer-Scholars to Provide Free Legal Services to OFWs and SBN 1448 or Expanding the Use of the Legal Assistance Fund.
“During the organizational meeting, I mentioned my desire to this committee’s commitment to primarily devote time and effort in the passage of laws that will make the process for deployment, repatriation and financial assistance streamlined, hassle-free and affordable to migrant workers,” Tulfo said.
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