OFW beheaded in Saudi for killing employer forcing him to pray at Muslim prayer time
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA – (UPDATE2, 9:48p.m.) Vice President Jejomar C. Binay and the Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday confirmed the beheading of a Filipino a day earlier in Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, however, the migrant rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) claimed Philippine officials failed to provide proper and adequate legal assistance to Lana, and asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to sack officials in the embassy in Riyadh and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Malacanang Palace said all government agencies involved with helping Filipino nationals abroad had exerted every effort to help Carlito Lana.
DFA said Lana, 37, was convicted for murdering his employer in December 2010. He was sentenced to death after the family of the victim refused to execute an Affidavit of Forgiveness (tanazul) in exchange for blood money.
Lana is survived by his parents, and two siblings, a brother and a sister.
The Vice President said that based on initial reports from the Philippine embassy in Riyadh, Carlito Lana was taken from his cell at around 9:30 a.m. and executed at around 3 p.m.
"It's really sad news," Binay remarked.
The Vice President is the presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns.
He said the Saudi government does not give advance notice to prisoners and their foreign embassies of execution dates. Official notices are issued only after the execution, he said.
According to the Vice President, Lana was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by beheading or qisas.
The family of his victim, his employer, a 65-year old Saudi national, did not issue an affidavit of forgiveness, which is needed under Saudi law to prevent an execution.
Under Shariah law, the next of kin would decide whether to advise the court to implement the death sentence (qisas) or that the family is willing to forgive and spare the life of the convict in consideration of accepting blood money, the DFA said.
"It's really sad news," Binay remarked.
The Vice President is the presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns.
He said the Saudi government does not give advance notice to prisoners and their foreign embassies of execution dates. Official notices are issued only after the execution, he said.
According to the Vice President, Lana was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by beheading or qisas.
The family of his victim, his employer, a 65-year old Saudi national, did not issue an affidavit of forgiveness, which is needed under Saudi law to prevent an execution.
Under Shariah law, the next of kin would decide whether to advise the court to implement the death sentence (qisas) or that the family is willing to forgive and spare the life of the convict in consideration of accepting blood money, the DFA said.
Blood money is the amount of money paid or given to the victim’s heirs for the death or injury inflicted upon the victim. It is part of the customs and laws of the Arabs and Muslims.
Details of the crime
Lana shot his victim, then tried to flee using his victim's car and, in doing so, ran over the latter's head.
An embassy report said Lana claimed that his employer was a good man and they had good relations, but he was being pressured to pray during Muslim prayer time.
Binay said that based on reports from the DFA, Lana's lawyer tried several times but failed to persuade the victim's son to meet Lana's mother and receive her letter asking for forgiveness.
President Aquino also wrote a letter to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz seeking the Saudi king's intercession in convincing the heirs of the victim to enter into an amicable settlement.
The Vice President said he is waiting for an official report from the Embassy on the execution.
He has also asked DFA to provide him an update on the cases of other jailed Filipinos where the victim's heirs have not issued affidavits of forgiveness.
An embassy report said Lana claimed that his employer was a good man and they had good relations, but he was being pressured to pray during Muslim prayer time.
Binay said that based on reports from the DFA, Lana's lawyer tried several times but failed to persuade the victim's son to meet Lana's mother and receive her letter asking for forgiveness.
President Aquino also wrote a letter to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz seeking the Saudi king's intercession in convincing the heirs of the victim to enter into an amicable settlement.
The Vice President said he is waiting for an official report from the Embassy on the execution.
He has also asked DFA to provide him an update on the cases of other jailed Filipinos where the victim's heirs have not issued affidavits of forgiveness.
Assistance to Lana
The Philippine government provided the late Lana all necessary and appropriate assistance and ensured that his legal rights were observed throughout the whole judicial process, the DFA said. Lana was given a fair trial and the Philippine embassy engaged the services of the Al Quwaizani law office and legal consultants to represent him in court to ensure that all his legal rights were respected and all legal procedures were being followed.
The Philippine government also facilitated the two visits of Lana’s mother to the prison facility in Riyadh where he was incarcerated, the DFA said.
As a Muslim convert and in accordance with Muslim traditions, the remains of Mr. Lana were buried in Saudi Arabia.
“We shall continue to extend assistance to the late OFW’s family,” the DFA added.
"Once again, we appeal to our nationals overseas to observe the local laws of their host countries, and to avoid involvement in criminal activities," DFA said.
‘Heads must roll over Saudi OFW beheading’
The migrant rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) on Sunday claimed Philippine officials failed to provide proper and adequate legal assistance to Lana, and asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to sack officials in the embassy in Riyadh and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Malacanang, however, asserted that the DFA had assisted Lana and his family every step of the way.
“Heads must roll over OFW Carlito Lana's beheading. There was failure of responsibility from the Aquino government and his foreign affairs officials who failed to provide prompt, proper, and adequate legal assistance to him," said M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona in a statement Sunday.
Monterona is based in Riyadh and is now in the Philippines for his annual leave.
“We hold Mr. Aquino liable due to his apathy and neglect on the deplorable plight of OFWs abroad," he added, while raising a demand to "immediately discharge PH ambassador Ezzadin Tago and DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario.”
According to Monterona, "If indeed the PH embassy and the DFA were closely monitoring his case, then it means it was keeping abreast of OFW Lana’s case since January 2011 when this case was first reported to Migrante International through OFW on-death row Joselito Zapanta”.
Monterona claimed that the DFA refused to give their group updates on the development of his case.
“We have endorsed Lana’s case to the DFA asking for prompt and adequate legal assistance since February 2011. On March 15, 2011, we sent a follow up letter asking for an update but there was no reply from the DFA. Lana’s mother and Migrante staff have been going back and forth every month to the DFA to get an update until August 2012 but to no avail,” Monterona claimed.
Monterona said if his group were informed regularly by the DFA on developments in Lana’s case, then his group could intensify the campaign to save the OFW from beheading.
“The Aquino government did not learn the lesson we’ve got that if we, the various OFW groups and the international community forge our campaign to save an OFW on death row, we could move heaven and earth and hope that the doomed OFW could be saved. And we have done this with success from our previous OFWs on death row who were saved,” Monterona asserted.
Lana, 33, is from General Trias, Cavite. He was first deployed in Saudi Arabia on March 2010, successfully completed his first 2-year contract and was re-deployed to Saudi Arabia on September 2010 with the same employer.
Palace extends condolences
Malacanang on Sunday extended its condolences to the Lana family.
“Nalulungkot po tayo sa pagtanggap ng balita hinggil sa execution ng ating kababayang si Ginoong Carlito Lana sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nagpahayag na po ang ating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ng pakikiramay sa kanyang pamilya,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Siya (Lana) ay hinatulan pagkatapos na tumanggi ang pamilya ng kanyang biktima na magsagawa ng isang tinatawag na ‘tanazul’ o affidavit of forgiveness bilang kapalit ng blood money. Sa ilalim ng batas na shari’ah, ang pinakamalapit na kamag-anak ay maaaring magdesisyon hinggil sa pagpapatupad ng hatol na kamatayan o death sentence,” Coloma explained.
The Philippine government provided assistance to Lana during his trial by hiring the services of the law firm Al Quwaizani Law Office, Coloma said.
“Our government did everything necessary and provided all assistance to Mr. Lana and ensured his rights are supported all throughout the judicial process,” said Coloma, speaking in filipino.
He said the DFA is also assisting other Filipinos facing similar predicaments abroad.
The migrant rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) on Sunday claimed Philippine officials failed to provide proper and adequate legal assistance to Lana, and asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to sack officials in the embassy in Riyadh and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Malacanang, however, asserted that the DFA had assisted Lana and his family every step of the way.
“Heads must roll over OFW Carlito Lana's beheading. There was failure of responsibility from the Aquino government and his foreign affairs officials who failed to provide prompt, proper, and adequate legal assistance to him," said M-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona in a statement Sunday.
Monterona is based in Riyadh and is now in the Philippines for his annual leave.
“We hold Mr. Aquino liable due to his apathy and neglect on the deplorable plight of OFWs abroad," he added, while raising a demand to "immediately discharge PH ambassador Ezzadin Tago and DFA Sec. Albert del Rosario.”
According to Monterona, "If indeed the PH embassy and the DFA were closely monitoring his case, then it means it was keeping abreast of OFW Lana’s case since January 2011 when this case was first reported to Migrante International through OFW on-death row Joselito Zapanta”.
Monterona claimed that the DFA refused to give their group updates on the development of his case.
“We have endorsed Lana’s case to the DFA asking for prompt and adequate legal assistance since February 2011. On March 15, 2011, we sent a follow up letter asking for an update but there was no reply from the DFA. Lana’s mother and Migrante staff have been going back and forth every month to the DFA to get an update until August 2012 but to no avail,” Monterona claimed.
Monterona said if his group were informed regularly by the DFA on developments in Lana’s case, then his group could intensify the campaign to save the OFW from beheading.
“The Aquino government did not learn the lesson we’ve got that if we, the various OFW groups and the international community forge our campaign to save an OFW on death row, we could move heaven and earth and hope that the doomed OFW could be saved. And we have done this with success from our previous OFWs on death row who were saved,” Monterona asserted.
Lana, 33, is from General Trias, Cavite. He was first deployed in Saudi Arabia on March 2010, successfully completed his first 2-year contract and was re-deployed to Saudi Arabia on September 2010 with the same employer.
Palace extends condolences
Malacanang on Sunday extended its condolences to the Lana family.
“Nalulungkot po tayo sa pagtanggap ng balita hinggil sa execution ng ating kababayang si Ginoong Carlito Lana sa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nagpahayag na po ang ating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ng pakikiramay sa kanyang pamilya,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
“Siya (Lana) ay hinatulan pagkatapos na tumanggi ang pamilya ng kanyang biktima na magsagawa ng isang tinatawag na ‘tanazul’ o affidavit of forgiveness bilang kapalit ng blood money. Sa ilalim ng batas na shari’ah, ang pinakamalapit na kamag-anak ay maaaring magdesisyon hinggil sa pagpapatupad ng hatol na kamatayan o death sentence,” Coloma explained.
The Philippine government provided assistance to Lana during his trial by hiring the services of the law firm Al Quwaizani Law Office, Coloma said.
“Our government did everything necessary and provided all assistance to Mr. Lana and ensured his rights are supported all throughout the judicial process,” said Coloma, speaking in filipino.
He said the DFA is also assisting other Filipinos facing similar predicaments abroad.
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