THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the International Pro Bono Alliance (iPBA) have forged a partnership aimed at strengthening legal protection and access to justice for Filipino migrants, trafficking victims, and other vulnerable sectors.
The two organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will provide free legal services, legal counseling and legal literacy programs for overseas Filipinos and their families, particularly those unable to afford legal assistance in the Philippines or abroad.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said the partnership seeks to ensure that overseas Filipinos are protected from exploitation and abuse.
“This collaboration is about ensuring that our overseas Filipinos are not left defenseless,” Ang said. “Access to justice should not be a privilege of the few, but a right accessible to those who need it most, especially those in financial distress.”
The agreement comes as the CFO expands its participation in the government’s anti-human trafficking campaign through the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, where the agency serves as one of the frontline institutions assisting Filipinos vulnerable to illegal recruitment, trafficking and fraudulent migration schemes.
Government data show that while the Philippines has maintained its Tier 1 ranking in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, trafficking challenges persist, particularly in cases involving third-country recruitment and cyber-trafficking operations. Victims in such cases are often left without legal representation in foreign jurisdictions.
Under the partnership, the iPBA will act as a referral partner for the CFO, handling cases that require immediate legal consultation and assistance.
Purificacion Bartolome-Bernabe of the iPBA said the organization’s efforts extend beyond litigation to include legal education and the development of a global network of pro bono organizations and law school legal clinics.
The initiative also supports the CFO’s broader mandate of promoting the welfare and interests of Filipinos overseas by equipping migrants with legal knowledge to help them identify and avoid trafficking and exploitation schemes.
The CFO’s Migrant Integration and Education Division (MIED) is expected to play a key role in identifying beneficiaries who may require legal services through the partnership.
The signing ceremony was attended by CFO Undersecretary Ma. Arlene Borja and iPBA Vice-President June Ambrosio, along with officials from the CFO’s MIED and the Office of the Executive Director.
Through the alliance, the CFO reinforced its role not only as a regulatory agency but also as an advocate for the protection and welfare of the more than 10 million Filipinos living and working overseas.
