Monday, March 14, 2005
Gov't asks for repatriation of 4 Pinoys beheaded in Saudi Arabia (11:30 p.m.)
MANILA -- The Government said Monday that four Filipinos were beheaded in Saudi Arabia after negotiations broke down over compensation payments to the family of the man that they were convicted of murdering.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the four men were executed in Taif without prior notice to Philippine consular officials.
The men, whose names were not released pending notification of their families, were sentenced to death for robbing and killing fellow Filipino Jaime de la Cruz.
Cruz had just collected an underground lottery on the day he was killed, Jan. 6, 2000, and most of the money was stolen, the
statement said. Six Filipinos, all co-workers of de la Cruz, were charged in the case. Two were sentenced to five to seven years in prison sentence, the others were ordered executed.
The DFA said Philippine diplomats had convinced the victim's family to lower its "blood money" demand from 6 million pesos
(US$111,400) to 3 million pesos (US$55,700), but that the parties could not agree on final arrangements for the payment.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape and armed robbery can be executed. Beheadings are carried out with a sword in public. (AP)
(March 15, 2005 issue)
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