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Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Gov't 'regrets' beheading of 4 Pinoys in Saudi
MANILA -- The beheading in Saudi Arabia of four Filipinos convicted of murdering and robbing a compatriot was "regretful" but serves as reminder to workers there to follow the law, said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's spokesman.
Beheaded by the sword for stabbing to death Jaime de la Cruz and robbing him were Miguel Fernandez, Sergio Aldana, Wilfredo Batista and Antonio Alviza.
De la Cruz had just collected a huge sum of money from an underground lottery.
"This is a regretful incident and will serve as a reminder here and abroad to follow the rule of law," said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who is also Arroyo's spokesman.
Bunye said the case of the four Filipinos underwent several judicial proceedings "with the interest of both parties properly represented by their lawyers."
He said the government monitored and assisted from the start all the parties in the case but "we cannot influence the course of justice in other lands."
The executions brought to 25 the number of beheadings announced by Saudi authorities so far this year. A total of 35 were beheaded in Saudi in 2004.
The death penalty is imposed in Saudi Arabia for murder, rape, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said government did its best to save the four Filipinos.
The labor chief was reacting to calls of lawmakers for her resignation following the death of the four Filipino workers and the unresolved kidnapping of Filipino accountant Robert Tarongoy in Iraq.
Sto. Tomas said the four Filipinos executed Monday were found guilty by the Saudi court of killing a fellow Filipino and therefore her department could not do anything about it anymore.
"They were tried and tested and found guilty and it (beheading) is in accordance with the law of Saudi Arabia," Sto. Tomas said.
She said it is erroneous to cite the beheading as a failure on the part of the labor department to do its job since it is outside the agency's jurisdiction.
"It is unfortunate that a Filipino was beheaded but it is no longer the job of the department to release them. Our job is to extend labor assistance and this is not related to employment because they killed a fellow OFW (overseas Filipino worker)," Sto. Tomas said.
She also said she was not yet labor secretary when the killing of de la Cruz happened and it was the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that handled the case.
"The incident happened in 2001, it was during the time of President Estrada and just because these Filipinos were beheaded, we will be blamed for this?" Sto. Tomas said.
The bodies of the four Filipinos will be brought back to the country, said Sto. Tomas.
It is not clear though if their families will receive benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration since they were executed for committing a crime. (RB/MSN)
| Post your experiences to the Sun.Star Graduation section. Click here. | 2005-02-24 04:52:02
mcalvo - My graduation was unforgettable to me and to my classmates. I was so drunk the night before graduation. During the ceremony i dozed to the point of snooring even when i was already standing i was half sleeping. Our dean has to call my name twice and the person behind me has to push me just to wake me up... graduations are memorable...enjoy and congratulations to all graduates!
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(March 16, 2005 issue)
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A cane and shoeless foot for Cebu City mayor