Twenty-four overseas Filipino workers remain on death row in different parts of the world, a figure that forms part of nearly 3,000 active legal cases involving Filipinos abroad now under government monitoring, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
At a media briefing in Mandaluyong City on Monday, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the cases span multiple jurisdictions and levels of severity, requiring sustained legal coordination with foreign governments, courts, and Philippine missions overseas.
“We’re handling around 3,000 cases. My instruction to our migrant workers offices is to ensure that there is more than one lawyer handling cases when needed,” Cacdac said.
The death row cases represent the most serious end of a wide legal spectrum that also includes labor disputes, immigration violations, and criminal complaints. Cacdac explained that the government continues to track each case individually, with particular attention given to those involving capital punishment.
Saudi Arabia currently accounts for the largest number of Filipinos with pending legal cases, a situation Cacdac linked to the country’s position as the biggest destination for overseas Filipino workers. He noted that while the volume is high, the types of cases vary widely and are not limited to criminal offenses.
Several of the death row cases being handled today were transferred to the DMW when the agency was created in 2021. These cases were previously managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), before migrant welfare functions were consolidated under the new department.
DMW Assistant Secretary for Welfare Maria Regina Galias said that drug-related offenses make up a significant portion of the death row cases, particularly in Malaysia, where such crimes can still carry capital punishment under existing laws.
She said other cases involving Filipino nationals facing execution are distributed across the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, each governed by distinct legal systems and procedures.
To support the growing caseload, the DMW works with a network of 25 retained foreign law firms and 10 in-house lawyers. These legal teams operate in close coordination with Philippine embassies and consulates, which provide on-the-ground monitoring and facilitate communication with local authorities.
Cacdac said recent developments have resulted in tangible outcomes for some Filipinos facing the harshest penalties. Two death row cases in Saudi Arabia were recently commuted, effectively removing the individuals from capital punishment.
“Two of our compatriots were taken off death row. I can’t go into details for privacy reasons, but this is a significant development,” he said.
The commutations form part of a longer-term downward trend in the number of Filipinos facing execution overseas. According to Cacdac, earlier figures ranged from 40 to as many as 70 cases in previous years. That number dropped to 49 last year and now stands at 24.
He linked the decline to consistent legal representation, closer bilateral engagement with host governments, and shifts in legal frameworks in certain countries. Malaysia, in particular, has introduced reforms that opened additional avenues for sentence commutation, which have been applied in some cases involving foreign nationals.
Legal assistance is complemented by welfare monitoring, with the DMW conducting regular jail visits to assess the condition of detained Filipinos. The agency also maintains communication with families in the Philippines, providing updates on case status and available forms of support.
“We visit the families, we talk to them, and we assist them,” Cacdac said.
Beyond individual cases, the department continues to refine its internal handling mechanisms, relying on coordination between migrant workers offices, embassies, and retained legal counsel to manage the scale and complexity of overseas litigation involving Filipino workers.
