President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described the execution of a Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia as a “terrible tragedy,” emphasizing that the Philippine government had exhausted all efforts to prevent it.
In an interview before departing for the ASEAN Summit in Laos, Marcos expressed sorrow over the situation, stating, “It was a terrible tragedy, and there was very little we had left to do. We have very few options left.”
According to the president, the Philippine government had been working for years to help the Filipino national, who was convicted of murder, but Saudi Arabian law remained firm. He noted that the Saudi government had reassessed the case but upheld the conviction.
“My God, this has been going on for many years,” Marcos recalled. “I came upon it when I came to office,” he said, emphasizing the long-standing efforts from both sides to find alternative solutions. “Saudi tried to exhaust all possibilities; so did we,” he added.
The president extended his sympathy to the family of the executed Filipino, assuring them that the government would continue to provide necessary assistance. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them… we will do our best,” he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier confirmed the execution, which took place on October 5. The worker was convicted of killing a Saudi national. The identity of the Filipino has been withheld out of respect for the family’s wishes.
