OFW sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia granted clemency

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia sentenced to death by beheading in November 2009 for involvement in drug smuggling was pardoned and freed on Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.        

Citing a report of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh, the DFA said the Filipino, whose identity was withheld upon request of the family, would be repatriated soon. 

The worker was sentenced to death by a tribunal of three judges for involvement in the smuggling of shabu into the kingdom. He was apprehended in 2008 by Saudi law enforcement agents after receiving a postal package with shabu hidden inside. 

The embassy filed an appeal on the decision, which led to the reduction of the death penalty by two members of the tribunal to 15 years imprisonment, 1500 lashes and a karama (fine) of 100,000 Saudi riyals.                                                    

The embassy included the OFW’s name in the list submitted to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud, for the grant of royal clemency.      

The worker was eventually released after three years in detention.                                                                                                    

“His release is testament to the hard work and tireless dedication of the men and women of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh in safeguarding the welfare of every Filipino in Saudi Arabia,” said Charge d’Affaires Ezzedin Tago. 

The worker is the third Filipino sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia whose release was successfully secured by the embassy.                                                                                 

Worker Michael Roque was released from prison in February 2011, while Nonito Abono was released in November 2010.