THE Department of Labor and Employment said on Monday that it would suspend the deployment of household workers abroad if another overseas Filipino worker is executed, unless the recruitment agencies do everything to help stop the executions.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Beloo III said the department will push through with its plan to suspend the deployment of household service workers in countries where OFWs were executed.
Bello met with officials and members of the Philippine Association of Legitimate Contractors and told the group to do everything they can to stop the executions.
“I told them to talk with their counterparts about the situation of our OFWs. Their counterparts can ask their officials in the Middle East to commute the death sentences meted to our OFWs to incarceration,” said Bello.
He cited the case of Jennifer Dalquez, the OFW who was sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates. Dalquez was sentenced to death by the Al Ain trial court in Dubai after being convicted of killing her employer in December 2015.
“They must help our OFWs. They are working hard for our country and it is only right that we protect them,” said Bello, adding that he is planning to go to UAE to ensure that all the assistance needed by Dalquez is provided.
Meanwhile, Bello said that he is still pursuing the case of OFW Elpidio Lano in Kuwait. Lano was meted the death sentence for allegedly killing a fellow Filipino.
“We do not want another tragedy to happen. I will pursue this for the next three or four days until I get the family of Macaranas to forgive Lano,” said Bello.
