DFA: Pinoy sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia repatriated

The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia in 2008 for mocking the name of the Prophet Mohammad has been repatriated and was expected to arrive in the Philippines on Monday. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) withheld the OFW's name upon his family's request but described him as a trailer driver from Manila. "He was also very happy and grateful to the Embassy when he was informed of the Royal Clemency granted to him," the DFA said. Saudi authorities arrested the Filipino on March 24, 2007 and charged him with blasphemy for besmirching and mocking the name of the Prophet Mohammad of Islam, considered a grievous offense. He was detained in Al Gurayyat, some 1,187 kilometers from Riyadh. On November 16, 2008, the Committee of Three Judges sentenced the OFW to "qisas" or death by beheading. The DFA and the Philippine Embassy provided a Saudi lawyer for the OFW and filed an appeal for him. "Initially, the Embassy had difficulties hiring a lawyer for the Filipino, due to the distance from Riyadh and the sensitivity of the case," the DFA said . But on July 17 last year, the Committee of Three Judges reconsidered its decision and lowered his sentence to five years imprisonment and 500 lashes. It added the Embassy made representations with the concerned Saudi authorities and asked for Royal Clemency, which the Saudi government granted. The Embassy provided the OFW with the necessary assistance, which included paying for his immigration fees and plane ticket. Meanwhile, the DFA reminded Filipinos to be sensitive and respectful of cultural norms in their host countries, and to avoid violating local laws and Islamic Sharia. - VVP, GMA News