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Activists criticise Philippines over beheading of expat in Saudi Arabia
| Published: | 15 Dec at 11 AM |
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Activists have condemned the government of the Philippines for failing to do more to save a national who was executed in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murder.
Carletto Lana was beheaded in the capital Riyadh on Friday after being found guilty of shooting a Saudi man before running him over in a car.
However, advocacy group Migrante International, has insisted President Benigno Aquino’s government should have done much more to defend their citizen. The group, which supports the millions of Filipinos working abroad, said that migrants were not protected adequately, and there was not sufficient legal assistance provided for expats overseas.
Spokesman Mic Catuira insisted that Lana only acted in self defence by killing the Saudi man. He added that the group were surprised by the fact the man was sentenced to death.
Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose also admitted that they had not learnt the man was going to be executed until Friday, adding that the government would now offer assistance to his family by repatriating his remains.
Around 10 per cent of Filipinos work abroad, mainly because the salaries offered are higher than what can be earned in their homeland. Remittances are a huge pillar in the Southeast Asian country’s economy.
Migrante International says that six Filipinos have been executed overseas since 2010.
Carletto Lana was beheaded in the capital Riyadh on Friday after being found guilty of shooting a Saudi man before running him over in a car.
However, advocacy group Migrante International, has insisted President Benigno Aquino’s government should have done much more to defend their citizen. The group, which supports the millions of Filipinos working abroad, said that migrants were not protected adequately, and there was not sufficient legal assistance provided for expats overseas.
Spokesman Mic Catuira insisted that Lana only acted in self defence by killing the Saudi man. He added that the group were surprised by the fact the man was sentenced to death.
Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose also admitted that they had not learnt the man was going to be executed until Friday, adding that the government would now offer assistance to his family by repatriating his remains.
Around 10 per cent of Filipinos work abroad, mainly because the salaries offered are higher than what can be earned in their homeland. Remittances are a huge pillar in the Southeast Asian country’s economy.
Migrante International says that six Filipinos have been executed overseas since 2010.
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