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DFA lobbies Saudi govt to include Pinoys in pardon


Philippine officials have started lobbying the Saudi government to include Filipinos in the list of prisoners to receive royal pardon, which they expect to be announced in a few weeks. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has requested Saudi authorities for a list of Filipinos in jail who would be granted such pardon, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA’s actions came after King Abdullah issued royal pardons on December 11 for petty criminals to mark the return of crown prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz from medical treatment overseas. "Both the Embassy and the Consulate-General continue to make representations to the relevant Saudi authorities for the inclusion of as many Filipino prisoners as possible," the DFA said in a statement on its website (www.dfa.gov.ph) Wednesday. On Tuesday, DFA officials admitted they still have no idea if Filipino inmates will benefit from the King's pardon, which covers those detained for petty crimes and have made restitutions to their victims. "The names of those who have been pardoned have not yet been released and may be known only after a few weeks," it said in a previous statement. Various groups, including the Middle East chapter of migrant workers group Migrante International, have earlier urged the government to grab the opportunity to work for the release of overseas Filipino workers detained in different jails in Saudi Arabia. [See: Pardons by Saudi King spark jailed OFWs’ hopes for release] A thousand OFWs in Saudi jails According to Migrante’s records, there are about a thousand imprisoned OFWs in Saudi Arabia, 79 of whom are currently detained at Malaz Central Jail in Riyadh for such petty crimes as illegal possession of liquor, gambling and absconding, and some in violation of the country’s customary laws. According to an earlier report by Philippine Consul General in Jeddah Ezzedin Tago, the Consulate General sent a note verbale to the Makkah Branch of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the inclusion of Filipinos in the royal pardon. Also, the DFA said the Philippine Government regularly requests for the inclusion of Filipinos in any pardon, especially before Ramadan, and when it knows that the detained Filipinos have served at least half their sentences. The royal pardon applies to both Saudi nationals and foreigners who are not considered a threat to public order and security. It covers those who are detained for petty crimes and violations, and who have made restitutions to their victims, including those whose charges are still being heard by the courts. However, the pardon does not include those arrested for major crimes or offenses liable for specific punishments under Shariah law, or due to lawsuits on private rights such as theft and embezzlement. Expatriates facing deportation will still have to go through all the necessary government procedures before they are allowed to leave the country, the DFA said. The case of Dondon Lanuza The DFA added that the Philippine government, through the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah, continues to extend help to Filipinos jailed there for grave offenses. It cited the case of Dondon Lanuza, for whom the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh hired a private defense lawyer to ensure that due process is observed. Lanuza has been languishing in the Dammam Jail since August 2000 after the Dammam Grand Court in Saudi Arabia sentenced him to death by beheading on June 10, 2002 for killing a Saudi Arabian national, Mohammad Al-Qahtani, on Aug. 10, 2000. The implementation of the sentence is suspended, however, until the minor son of the victim, who is now 10 years old, reaches the age of majority, the DFA said. President Arroyo had written a letter to Prince Mohammad bin Fahd seeking to spare Lanuza's life, the DFA noted. It added the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is also in constant communication with the victim’s family to convince them to grant forgiveness and settle the private aspect of the case. – Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV

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