By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate President Chiz Escudero has called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to offer all necessary legal assistance to Filipinos imprisoned abroad to help secure their freedom.
Escudero’s statement came after Mary Jane Veloso’s return to the Philippines, following nearly 15 years of imprisonment in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
“I hope that Mary Jane’s repatriation marks the first of many similar cases of Filipinos abroad,” Escudero said.
“This (Veloso’s return) demonstrates that PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) and his government genuinely care for Filipinos overseas, separated from their families.”
He urged the DFA, through its foreign missions, to collaborate with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) whenever alerted to cases of Filipinos facing legal issues abroad.
“They should investigate the nature of the cases against them, determine what has been or can be done to help secure their freedom, and provide assistance to make their detention more bearable,” Escudero said.
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