The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today took strong exception to charges that it has been "remiss" in its duty as protector of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"Our posts deliver the needed assistance to our nationals overseas, be it in the form of legal or consular assistance. And in cases of death sentences, the Department always exhausts all possible avenues within its means in an effort to spare the lives of OFWs who are meted the death penalty," the DFA said in a report to Malacaņang.

It said similar assistance was being extended to minor and "routine" offenders, including those involving abusive employers, unpaid wages, repatriation of runaways and other problems, regardless of whether they are documented or undocumented.

The DFA report came on the heels of news reports that 19 OFWs were facing capital punishment in various countries. The department confirmed that 13 OFWs have been convicted of capital offenses in Saudi Arabia, five in Malaysia and one in the United States.

Regarding the report that 50 Filipino minors "should have been immediately repatriated," the DFA retorted that as a "matter of fact these minors had been duly repatriated since they are no longer reflected in the list of Filipino detainees."

The foreign office pointed out that the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) provides legal and consular assistance to distressed OFWs facing court cases in their host countries.

The consular assistance consists of jail visitations by embassy or consulate officials, representations with local authorities for early resolution of the cases, filing requests for clemency or pardon, attending court hearings, providing repatriation tickets in case the detained OFW has been abandoned by his employer, and providing accommodations, food and other personal necessities while awaiting negotiations with the employer and eventual repatriation.