OFW pardoned for drug crime returns home from Saudi

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who was convicted for bringing in drugs to Saudi Arabia but was granted pardon and freed, arrived in the Philippines on Monday. The OFW, whose identity the authorities withheld, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 10 p.m. Monday, according to a radio dzBB report by Paulo Santos on Tuesday. On Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the OFW who was earlier sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia was granted pardon and freed Sunday. “The Embassy is not releasing his name, in deference to the request of the OFW’s family for privacy," the DFA said in a news release posted on its website on Monday. "The OFW was earlier sentenced to death by beheading in November 2009 by a tribunal of three judges for involvement in smuggling the illegal drug shabu into Saudi Arabia," the DFA added. The DFA said Saudi law enforcement agents arrested the OFW in February 2008 after he received a postal package with methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) inside. Smuggling and selling illegal drugs in the Kingdom is a crime punishable by death. After his arrest, the Philippine Embassy exerted efforts to ensure his legal rights were respected during the investigation process and in trial. “Through the Embassy’s efforts, an appeal was filed on the original decision. Based on the appeal prepared by the Embassy with the assistance of counsel, two members of the tribunal reduced the earlier penalty from death penalty to 15 years imprisonment, 1,500 lashes and a karama (fine) of SR100,000 (P1.154 million)," the DFA said. The Embassy included the OFW’s name in the list submitted to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud for the grant of Royal Clemency. The DFA said the Embassy’s efforts was favorably acted upon, and he was ordered released after serving a total of three years in detention. “Upon release, he tearfully thanked the Embassy for its relentless efforts at working for his release from prison," the DFA said. The DFA said the OFW is the third Filipino sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia whose release was successfully secured by the Embassy. Earlier, Michael Roque was released from prison in February 2011, while Nonito Abono was released in November 2010. – VVP, GMA News