Saudi Arabia Executes Filipino Citizen Despite Years of Appeals From the Philippines
Saudi Arabia has executed a Filipino citizen convicted of murder, despite years of diplomatic efforts from the Philippine government to prevent the execution, officials confirmed on Monday. The Philippines had made numerous appeals, including a personal letter from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in an attempt to save the individual from capital punishment.
While the identity of the executed Filipino has not been disclosed at the request of the family, a Philippine official with knowledge of the case revealed that the individual was arrested in 2020 and convicted of murder. The death sentence was handed down with finality last year, and the execution was carried out on Saturday.
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“It’s very unfortunate,” Marcos told reporters, expressing his regret over the outcome. He added that the Philippine government had done everything it could, appealing to Saudi authorities to reconsider the decision. “Unfortunately, the law there is very strict,” he said, acknowledging that the conviction had been upheld despite diplomatic interventions.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila confirmed that legal assistance had been provided throughout the case. The Philippine government had exhausted all possible remedies, including a presidential appeal, but the family of the victim refused to accept “blood money”—a financial settlement that could have secured the Filipino’s release.
