PH gov’t surprised as well by OFW execution in Saudi

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday admitted the government was also caught off guard by the recent beheading of an overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia.

“Ayon sa ulat ng ating embahada sa Saudi Arabia na ipinarating sa DFA, kahapon lang ng umaga nabatid ‘yung pagkuha sa ating kababayan na iniulat na binitay kahapon din ng hapon. Kaya medyo biglaan ‘yon,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

(According to our embassy in Saudi Arabia, as relayed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, they learned only yesterday morning about our fellow Filipino being taken and eventually being executed in the afternoon. That was indeed sudden.)

“Hindi naman nagkaroon ng sapat na pagkakataon para gumawa pa ng additional representation with the Saudi Arabian government for a possible further consideration of his situation or a stay of the execution,” he added.

(There was not enough time to make an additional representation with the Saudi Arabian government for possible further consideration of his situation or a stay of the execution.)

The DFA on Monday confirmed that Joven Esteva, who was convicted of murder for killing his employer, was beheaded at 9 a.m. Monday in Riyadh.

READ: Saudi Arabia executes OFW convicted of murder

His wife Nerlyn said they were stunned by the news, especially since she had just recently talked to her husband who did not mention anything about the execution.

READ: Wife stunned by husband’s execution in Saudi Arabia: ‘I was just talking to him’

While the DFA has provided assistance to Esteva, his former employer’s family has refused to forgive him. Nerlyn said it was the victim’s wife who rejected settling the case through “blood money.”

Nevertheless, Coloma assured the public that the DFA is doing its best to monitor OFWs across the globe. He said the government was serious in ensuring assistance to nationals as an important commitment to OFWs, who have long been hailed for their contribution to the Philippine economy.

Esteva was a family driver who was arrested in 2007. His wife said he wanted to return home but his employer prevented him. The murder happened after the employer allegedly took the money, sent by Esteva’s relatives, for his ticket home.

READ: OFW dies in Qatar, another nabbed in Saudi for killing