The Supreme Court has ruled that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) retain their parental authority and can have sole custody over their children, even when living abroad.
In a case posted online on January 30, the Court upheld a decision granting an OFW mother sole custody of her children, with provisional custody given to the maternal grandmother in the Philippines.
The mother had left for work in France, leaving the children with their father, but when concerns arose about the father’s care, she moved them to the grandmother’s home and sought legal custody.
The father’s petition for custody was denied, with the Court ruling that being an OFW does not strip a parent of their custody rights.
The SC emphasized the importance of ensuring the children’s best interests, noting that the grandmother was a better caregiver than the father due to his behavior.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 1, 2025
