Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac officially administered the oath of office to Atty. Darlene Pajarito, who joins the department as its newest Undersecretary. A multi-awarded prosecutor and a champion for human rights, Pajarito brings over two decades of legal expertise and a relentless track record in the fight against human exploitation.
Before her appointment at the DMW, Undersecretary Pajarito served for 15 years as an Assistant City Prosecutor in Zamboanga City under the Department of Justice (DOJ). Her career is defined by landmark legal victories that reshaped the Philippine judicial landscape:
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2005: Secured the first-ever sex trafficking conviction in the Philippines.
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2011: Secured the nation’s second labor trafficking conviction.
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Leadership: Served as the Executive Director of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT).
Pajarito’s dedication has resonated far beyond Philippine borders. In 2011, she was honored by the U.S. State Department as a “TIP Report Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery,” a prestigious global recognition for those who devote their lives to the fight against human trafficking.
Most recently, she has been a key figure in the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking (ASEAN-ACT) program. In this role, she worked to strengthen national laws and policies, ensuring a more robust framework for the protection of victims and the prosecution of exploiters across the region.
Secretary Cacdac expressed confidence that Pajarito’s inclusion in the DMW leadership will significantly bolster the department’s mandate to protect Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“Undersecretary Pajarito’s wealth of experience and her unwavering commitment to justice are exactly what the DMW needs as we intensify our efforts to shield our modern-day heroes from the perils of illegal recruitment and trafficking,” Secretary Cacdac stated.
As Undersecretary, Pajarito is expected to lead initiatives that integrate her deep knowledge of counter-trafficking practices into the DMW’s core strategies, ensuring that the rights and dignity of every Filipino migrant are upheld.
