More jailed OFWs in Saudi hope for royal pardon

MANILA, Philippines -  More jailed Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia are hoping for a royal pardon after the Philippine government successfully secured the freedom of three Filipinos sentenced to death, a labor group said yesterday.

Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said Filipino workers detained at Malaz Central jail have become optimistic that they would soon be released. He said that last January, 48 jailed workers asked for their assistance to be released from prison because they have already completed their jail terms.                         

Monterona gave assurance that the group is closely following the case of the jailed workers and has been keeping in touch with the Philippine embassy.                        

The Philippine government has obtained royal pardon for three OFWs.

The last man pardoned by the king of Saudi Arabia was freed Sunday and returned to Manila late Monday. His identity was withheld because of privacy concerns. The man was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to death by beheading after Saudi authorities seized a package that was mailed to him containing methamphetamine.