By Hannah Torregoza



Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday called on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to help promote human rights, freedom and social justice by being seekers and defenders of truth no matter where they are based.

In her message on International Migrants Day today, De Lima urged Filipinos, including OFWs to continue showing compassion and concern to individuals who flee their home to seek safety or find better opportunities abroad.

“Despite the negative image that the current government has in the past three years, I hope that wherever you are in the world, you will continue to showcase true Filipino values—professionalism, competence, compassion. Let us all be seekers and defenders of truth,” she said.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice and human rights, pointed out that it is everyone’s duty to lend a helping hand to those in need of assistance and protection, regardless of their race, creed, age, gender, economic status or country of origin.

“Sa huli, ang paggalang at pagtanggap sa kapwa, dayuhan man o hindi kakilala, ay hindi lamang pagkakawanggawa o dikta ng moralidad. Ito ay obligasyon ng bawat isa para sa kapwa, na kasalo nating namumuhay sa iisang mundo—tungo sa kolektibo nating hangarin na makamit ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran na walang sinuman ang napapabayaan, (In the end, respect and acceptance—whether foreigner or not—is not just about charity or dictated by morality. It is an oblivation of everyone for another person towards our collective goal to achieve peace and progress that is inclusive),” she added.

The United Nations (UN) International Migrants Day aims to recognize the efforts, contributions, and rights of migrants worldwide and is held every year of December 18.

According to the UN, this year’s observance of International Migrants Day focused “on the stories of social cohesion, which are as varied and unique as each of the 272 million migrants living new lives and building new communities in every corner of the globe.”

As chair of the Senate Social Justice Committee, de Lima is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 379, which seeks to promote and protect the rights of refugees and stateless persons.

“Dahil nga po sa mga pagbabagong dala ng modernong panahon, naging mas komplikado at malawak din ang mga pagsubok para sa mga migrant worker, gaya ng dinaranas ng ating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na nagsisikap at nakikipagsapalaran sa iba-ibang bahagi ng mundo, (because we are now facing a modern world, migrant workers are faced with more complicated challenges, like the ones our OFWs are experiencing as they work in other parts of the world),” she added.

The bill primarily seeks the establishment of the Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Board as the central authority in matters relating to the determination of status, and eligibility to avail of protection, as refugees and stateless persons.

De Lima said the measure is considered to be the first of its kind in the history of Philippine Congress, as there has not been any law yet enacted for refugees and stateless persons in the country.