OFW beheaded in Saudi Arabia – VP Binay

MANILA – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday said he got confirmation from Philippine Embassay in Riyadh that overseas Filipino worker Carlito Lana was beheaded Friday morning.

Based on initial reports, Lana was taken from cell at around 9:30 a.m. in Saudi Arabia and executed.

“We regret to announce that our countryman Carito Lana was beheaded in Saudi Arabia yesterday morning. It was confirmed by the Philippine embassy today,” Binay, presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said in a press statement.

Binay said the Saudi government does not give advance notice to prisoners and their foreign embassies of execution dates.

”Official notices are sent after the execution,” he said.

Lana was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by beheading or qisas, according to Binay.

The family of his victim, a 65-year old Saudi national, did not issue an affidavit of forgiveness, which is needed under Saudi law to prevent an execution.

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 based on reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Lana’s lawyer tried several times but failed to convince the victim’s son to meet Lana’s mother and receive her letter asking for forgiveness.

President Benigno Aquino III also wrote a letter to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz requesting 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 the DFA to provide him an update on the cases of other jailed Filipinos where the victim’s heirs have not issued affidavits of forgiveness.