Senator Raffy Tulfo thinks that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should hire more lawyers who are good at helping distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
During the Senate hearing on several bills aimed at improving the financial and legal assistance for overseas Filipino workers, the speaker said that one way to increase the number of Filipinos acquitted in cases involving working abroad would be to make sure they have good legal representation.
Tulfo said that the best lawyers should be hired by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as cases like this one can be difficult to solve.
The hearing looked at cases where DFA-retained lawyers had tried to help overseas workers who had been wronged. It was found that not a single case had been successful in ending in an acquittal.
Sen. Idol asked DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega to make sure that offices around the world that are meant to help migrant workers work 8 hours a day, or more, in order to help overseas Filipino workers.
Tulfo learned that some OFWs he met on a recent trip to a foreign country complained that DFA employees abroad only work for a few hours each day and that they’re not always available to entertain them.
The Senator from Isabela and Davao said that even if there are a lot of papers that need to be processed, there should still be employees who are responsible for helping OFWs throughout the day.
De Vega said that he will investigate the issue and call all of the necessary embassies abroad.
Tulfo said that his committee will focus on laws that will make it easier to prosecute people who are recruiting people illegally, and also on making sure the AKSYON (aid) fund is wisely managed so that financial assistance is given to those who need it.