Filipino beheaded in Saudi Arabia for murder

RIYADH—Saudi Arabia on Friday beheaded an oversees Filipino worker (OFW) convicted of killing one of its nationals, the middle eastern country’s interior ministry said.

Carlito Lana (spelled as Karlito Nunez Lana in the Saudi Press Agency report) shot dead Saudi national Nasser al-Gahtani before running him over with a car, the SPA news agency said.

Lana’s execution was carried out in Riyadh.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, said Lana was taken from his cell at around 9:30 a.m. for his execution.

No notice

He added that the Saudi government does not inform the foreign embassies and even the prisoners in advance of the execution dates. Instead, the official notices are sent after the execution.

Binay said Lana’s lawyer tried several times to convince the victim’s family to accept the OFW’s apology but failed.

Aquino letter

He said President Benigno Aquino III also wrote to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, asking for his “intercession” by negotiating an amicable settlement. However, that too did not push through.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila said it was saddened by Lana’s execution and promised to assist his family.

“We are saddened by the death of Filipino national Carlito Lana and we condole with his family for their loss,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“Our embassy in Riyadh will assist his kin in bringing his remains back to the Philippines at the earliest opportunity,” Jose added.

Executions

According to an AFP tally, 80 foreigners and Saudis have now been executed in the country this year, despite international concerns over the number and the judicial process.

More than two-thirds of this year’s executions have been carried out over the past four months.

Rape, murder, apostasy, drug trafficking and armed robbery are all punishable by death under the kingdom’s strict version of Islamic sharia law.

Updated on December 13, 2014 at 4:20 pm to include a statement from Vice President Jejomar Binay.

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