MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino has been executed in Saudi Arabia for the murder of a Saudi national despite years of efforts by the Philippines to prevent the execution, including a presidential appeal, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
“We regret to confirm the news that a Filipino has been executed in Saudi Arabia for murder,” the DFA said in a statement.
The Philippine government provided legal assistance and exhausted all possible remedies, including a presidential letter of appeal, according to the DFA.
“But the victim’s family refused to accept blood money in return for the forgiveness of the Filipino, and so the execution proceeded,” the agency said.
Despite all efforts to save the Filipino, the execution on Oct. 5, which stemmed from a financial dispute, went ahead.
“We did all we could. In the end, our efforts were not successful as the victim’s family wanted the death penalty instead of accepting blood money,” DFA Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo de Vega said.
The executed Filipino’s family requested that their privacy be respected and for details to be withheld from the public. — Alexis Romero