Palace extends condolences to family of OFW executed in Saudi Arabia

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma

MANILA — Malacanang on Sunday extended its condolences to the family of the Overseas Filipino Worker recently executed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“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 (We are saddened by the news that our countryman Mr. Carlito Lana was executed in Saudi Arabia. Our Department of Foreign Affairs already sent their condolences to his family),” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

On Saturday, the DFA confirmed the beheading of Lana.

Lana, 37, was sentenced to death for the killing of Saudi national Nasser Al-Gahtani, his employer, in December 2010.

“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, (Lana was sentenced after the victim’s family refused to give what is called ‘tanazul’ or an affidavit of forgiveness in exchange for the blood money. Under shari’ah law, the closest relative can decide to push through with the death sentence),” Coloma explained.

The Communications Secretary noted that the Philippine government has provided assistance to Lana during his trial through hiring the services of the law firm Al Quwaizani Law Office.

“Ang atin pong pamahalaan ay nagbigay ng lahat ng kinakailangan at kinauukulang pagtulong kay Ginoong Lana at tiniyak po na ang kanyang mga karapatang legal ay iginalang at sinuportahan sa buong prosesong panghukuman o judicial process (Our government provided all necessary and due assistance to Mr. Lana and we made sure that his legal rights were upheld and supported during the entire judicial process),” said Coloma.

He added that the DFA is also assisting other Filipinos facing similar predicaments abroad.

“Nananawagan po ang ating pamahalaan sa lahat ng ating mga kababayang nakatira o nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na tumalima sa mga lokal na batas kung saan sila naroon at iwasan po ang masangkot sa mga kriminal na aktibidad para hindi na po maulit itong kalungkot-lungkot na pangyayaring ito (Our government is calling upon our countrymen living or working abroad to heed local laws wherever they are and avoid getting involved in criminal activities so this incident won’t happen again),” said Coloma.