MANILA, Philippines - Fifty-nine Filipino workers languishing in various jails worldwide are facing the death penalty, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported.

Most of the cases involve several offenses such as rape, drug smuggling and homicide and are pending in China, Malaysia, Kuwait, Brunei, United States and Saudi Arabia, said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr.

“The cases of the 59 Filipinos are in different stages," Conejos added.

Citing data from Philippine foreign posts, Conejos said there were a total of 87 Filipinos on death row since January 2006. Of the number, 28 were commuted. He added that 12 Filipinos already returned home after serving their prison sentences.

Ten cases of Filipinos, who allegedly committed crimes punishable by death are still on preliminary investigation, while 49 are pending in courts.

Conejos said 49 Filipinos are facing death for drug-related charges, mostly in Chinese jails. The good thing is that China has a two-year reprieve for foreign nationals with death sentences.

“In China they have what they call suspended cases wherein the implementation of execution is suspended for two years so that in the event the detainee behaves properly in jail, it is commuted to life sentence. This allows them to credit good behavior in prison," Conejos said.

The DFA has been actively campaigning to abolish or at least secure a moratorium on the death penalty in countries with jailed Filipinos.

With more and more Filipinos facing the death penalty overseas, Party-list Representative Satur Ocampo, of Bayan Muna, wants to amend the existing Philippine laws and provide substantial legal services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are facing trial or languishing on death row. [See: Bill seeks to beef up RP embassies, save 5,000 OFWs from jails]

Ocampo’s recently filed bill, House Bill 5657, seeks to expand the scope and upgrade the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) program to provide full legal assistance to migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress.

HB 5657 also seeks to transform the office of the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers Affairs to the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs with the rank, salary and privileges equal to an undersecretary of the DFA. - GMANews.TV