Three Associate Justices of the Philippine Supreme Court sat down with Overseas Filipino Workers in Northern Italy on May 4, 2026, bringing judicial discussions on migrant rights directly to the community in what officials described as the first legal forum of its kind conducted outside the country.
Hosted at the Philippine Consulate General in Milan, the event was organized by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Milan. Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, and Samuel H. Gaerlan led the sessions, covering recent Supreme Court rulings and their implications for Filipinos living and working abroad.
The agenda addressed issues that many OFWs encounter firsthand — among them the recognition of foreign divorce decrees, international protection, illegal recruitment, and gender-related legal rights. Participants were briefed on available legal remedies and the protections afforded to them under Philippine law.
Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay, who oversees foreign employment and welfare services, attended alongside Atty. Janine T. Tutanes, Director of the Office of Legal Services. Consulate officials, DMW-accredited legal retainers, and Filipino community leaders were also present.
The forum was framed by organizers as part of a broader effort to extend legal awareness and access to justice to Filipinos who cannot easily engage with Philippine institutions from abroad.
