Filipina maid executed in Saudi on murder charges

Officials said her case could not be settled with “blood money”

A Filipina domestic worker has been executed in Saudi Arabia after she was found guilty of murder, the Asian nation’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said.

The 39-year-old woman was sentenced to death after the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council ruled that the case could not be settled with “blood money” under Sharia law, the DFA statement said.

The execution was carried out on January 29.

“The department regrets that it was not able to save the life of the Filipina,” it said.

No further details about the case were provided.

Philippines’ ambassador to Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto said the woman had been provided with assistance throughout her trial, including the provision of a lawyer and consular visits.

Her family had also been informed about updates in the case.

Saudi Arabia uses the death penalty for several offences including murder, drug-related crimes and terrorism.

Earlier this week, four Yemeni nationals were executed in Makkah after they were found guilty of killing a Pakistani national who was working as a guard for a building.

In October last year, the kingdom also executed another domestic worker from Indonesia, who allegedly killed her Saudi employer during a rape attack.

Source: gulfbusiness.com, January 31, 2019

OFW's execution in Saudi shows PH can't adopt death penalty – Locsin

Reimposing the death penalty will make the Philippines 'lose the argument of respecting our culture,' says Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr

MANILA, Philippines – The recent execution of a 39-year-old Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia shows the Philippines cannot adopt the death penalty, said Foreign Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin Jr.

"Damn. This is why we cannot adopt the death penalty; we lose the argument of respecting our culture which abhors the taking of a human life by a cold formal state justice system when we believe that a state exists to protect life," Locsin said in a tweet on Thursday, January 31.

Locsin tweeted this after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed that a 39-year-old Filipina helper in Saudi Arabia, who was found guilty of murder, was executed.

Saudi Arabia carried out the execution on Tuesday, January 29.

The Philippines has appealed for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on death row abroad, even as President Rodrigo Duterte has pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty in the Philippines. The proposal to reinstate the death penalty, however, has languished in Congress.

Buhay Representative Lito Atienza earlier warned that reimposing the death penalty in the Philippines will likely hurt the Philippines' efforts to save OFWs on death row.

"Should Congress reinstate the cruel and inhuman punishment, it would be extremely problematic for us to plead with other governments for compassion, if we ourselves are killing own convicts here – if we ourselves do not respect the value of human life," Atienza said.

Source: rappler.com, Paterno Esmaquel II, January 31, 2019

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