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In a case that dragged on for several years, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says the government ‘tried everything’ to save the Filipino’s life
MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino on death row in Saudi Arabia has been executed, the Philippine government said on Tuesday, October 8.
“We regret to confirm the news that a Filipino has been executed in Saudi Arabia for murder,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
The Philippine government provided legal assistance and exhausted remedies to save the Filipino’s life, including sending a presidential letter of appeal to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. But the victim’s family refused to accept blood money in return for forgiveness of the Filipino, and so the death penalty was meted, the DFA said.
No other details of the case will be divulged as the Filipino’s family has requested privacy, according to authorities.
‘We tried everything’
The Filipino’s case had been going on for years, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac.
“We tried everything for many, many years. The Saudi government really tried to look and to be sure that the judgment…was actually deserved,” Marcos told reporters.
Saudi Arabian authorities considered the Philippines’ appeals, Marcos said, but the execution prevailed because of the kingdom’s strict laws.
“The conviction has stood, and one of ours has been taken away. Very unfortunate,” said Marcos, adding that the government’s thoughts and prayers were with the family.
Cacdac said the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is providing assistance to the family, including school-aged children. Repatriation of the remains was underway.
“The DMW has visited the family and assured them of our support on this,” said Cacdac.
A presidential letter of appeal is special to this case, as the President does not provide one for every Filipino abroad on death row.
For instance, when there were two Filipinos up for lethal injection in China in 2023, the Philippines did not send a presidential appeal, although it did exhaust “all” other measures. – with reports from Bea Cupin/Rappler.com
