MANILA – A Filipino national was executed in Saudi Arabia on Saturday for the murder of a Saudi national.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary for Migration Eduardo Jose de Vega, they have yet to receive an official notification from the Saudi government but confirmed “there was an execution”.
“We did all we could: appeal, presidential letter of appeal, trying to get the victim’s family to accept blood money… no go,” De Vega said.
De Vega added that the DFA opted to withhold the identity and other details about the case “out of deference to the wishes of the family”.
Philippine Embassy in Riyadh Chargé d’affaires Rommel Romato, meanwhile, said the Saudi government carried out the execution “in accordance with local procedures”.
The Filipino national was sentenced to qisas or retribution for the killing of a Saudi national stemming from a financial dispute.
Romato said the Philippine government extended all possible assistance that it could, including legal representation and assistance throughout the proceedings.
He added that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also wrote a letter to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in an effort to save the Filipino’s life, but to no avail.
“The victim’s family has repeatedly declined opportunities to discuss blood money compensation,” Romato said.
He added: “Despite the Philippine government’s best efforts, the local court imposed the penalty in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s judicial processes and applicable laws for the most serious crimes.”/PN
