Lacson asks gov’t agencies to conduct inventory of all criminal cases of OFWs

Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Former Senator Panfilo Lacson over the weekend said he is asking the concern government agencies to conduct an inventory of all criminal cases of all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) all over the world.

“Giving priority to those cases that carry the maximum penalty of death, further giving utmost priority to those who have been victims of injustice like those who were victims of attempted rape, and who subsequently killed their attackers in self-defense so that we can provide them with all the legal assistance that they need,” Lacson said in a text message.

He said that instead of just reacting in panic when somebody is already scheduled for execution, we can do better to save our countrymen who need legal assistance.

“While we failed to learned from the painful lesson brought about by the execution of Flor Contemplacion in Singapore in the 90s, we should now learn from the tragic fate of Mary Jane Veloso,” Lacson explained.

He said that if concern government agencies could address the concerns of OFWs who had been languishing in jail, we could serve the needed justice due for them and escape the blame of anyone including the relatives of the OFWs that they were neglected by the government despite efforts made to save them.

Lacson was also reacting to the “uncalled for” reaction of Veloso family that President Benigno Aquino III is doing nothing to save Mary Jane.

“Without the President intervention and collective efforts of the concern government agencies, Mary Jane is among the dead. The Veloso family should give the respect to those who contributed in Mary Jane’s temporary liberty,” the former veteran lawmaker said.