Death row OFWs may not fly home with Rody

RIYADH – Malacañang clarified yesterday that Filipino death row inmates might not be released and come home together with President Duterte after his trip to the Middle East.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said none of the cases of Filipinos on death row has reached Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. It is therefore premature to seek clemency for the Filipinos who were meted death, Abella said. 

“I think we need to be careful in delineating the two aspects.

He (Duterte) was asked about the death row matter. We need to clarify that the process has not reached the level of the king,” Abella told reporters in a press conference here.

“It is not yet the time and the place to discuss the matter because it has not reached his (King Salman) level,” he added. 

Abella said Duterte was referring to undocumented workers who availed themselves of Saudi Arabia’s amnesty program when he talked about bringing home Filipinos. He said the President has offered to provide a chartered flight for the undocumented and stranded migrant workers. 

On Monday, Duterte said overseas Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia might be granted pardon or commutation of sentence. 

“Yes, they’ve been given the clearance. I will fly them home. Pagdating ko dito dala ko na ‘yung iba (I will bring home with me some of them),” the President said in a press conference in Davao City before leaving for Saudi Arabia. 

“Those who are given the permission of clemency to whatever it was they already have clearance, about 5,000 of them, we’ll start bringing them back. The first batch upon my return,” he added. 

There are about 700 Filipinos who are jailed in Saudi Arabia for various cases, including using illegal drugs, immorality and alcoholism. Of the jailed Filipinos, 21 are on death row. 

Philippine Consul General to Riyadh Iric Arribas said none of the Filipinos sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia are scheduled for execution this year.  

According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), about 2,489,430 Filipinos are working in the Middle East, with 1,028,802 in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Ambassador Abdullah N.A. Al Bussairy said yesterday President Duterte’s decision to start his first trip to the Middle East with his visit to Saudi Arabia showed the kingdom’s leadership stature in the region and the international community.

Duterte’s state visit from April 10 to 12 comes within the framework of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Al Bussairy said Duterte would meet the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman and leaders of the kingdom. 

He said the President’s visit would witness more progress and development in relations between the countries in all areas of cooperation and to strengthen their strategic partnership.

“This visit is considered as a big opportunity to transform our bilateral ties into deeper and expanded fields to craft joint policies in all fields, politically, economically, culturally as well as in security through the signing of a number of bilateral agreements and treaties that serve the mutual interests of the two countries,” Al Bussairy said.

Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines started in 1969.

Al Bussairy said the relations have grown since then.

“During the period of our presence in the Philippines, we have experienced the extent of respect of the Filipino people for the kingdom, as the Kingdom of Humanity hosts Filipino nationals with respect and affection,” he added.

According to Al Bussairy, the Philippines recently became a preferred tourism destination for Saudi nationals due to the tourist sites and wonderful islands. 

“We are looking forward that this visit will strengthen the relations binding the two countries in political, security and labor aspects and promote the cooperation level to cover various fields including food security, education, science, technical, medical as well as agriculture that will generate benefits to the Saudi and Filipino people,” he said.

The mutual trust and confidence, he said, as well as the good partnership relations and respect that the Kingdom and the Philippines are enjoying, can enable both to transform these relations into more advanced stages in all spheres. – With Pia Lee-Brago