Remains of beheaded OFW buried in Saudi Arabia — Palace

The remains of the Filipino beheaded in Saudi Arabia have been buried there in accordance with the Muslim tradition, a Palace official said Sunday.

"Bilang isang Muslim at ayon po sa tradisyon ng pananampalataya ng mga kapatid nating Muslim, ang mga labi ni Ginoong Lana ay nailibing na po sa Saudi Arabia, at patuloy pa rin ‘yung paghahatid ng ayuda at tulong sa kanyang pamilya," Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press briefing aired over state-run dzRB.

The 37-year old Carlito Lana was convicted for killing his employer in 2010.

He was beheaded on Friday in Riyadh.

Coloma said the family of the murdered employer refused to make an affidavit of forgiveness in exchange for the 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, o kaya naman magpahiwatig kung sila ay nais na magpatawad at maisalba ‘yung buhay ng hinatulan bilang kapalit nung tinatawag na blood money, at ito po ay kasama sa mga kostumbre at batas ng mga Arabo at ng mga Muslim," he said

Coloma said the government has extended all the support and help Lana needed.

"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," he said.

Moreover, Coloma said the Philippine Embassy there hired the services of Al Quwaizani law office and other legal consultants which represented Lana in trials and ensured that his rights were respected and all legal process were followed.

The government also facilitated the visit of Lana's mother in Riyadh where he was jailed.

Meanwhile, Palace appealed to Filipinos to follow laws of host countries and to avoid involvement in criminal activities.

Coloma said the Foreign Affairs department is also working on other issues faced by Filipinos abroad.

"Patuloy na tinututukan ng ating... Department of Foreign Affairs ang kasalukuyang status ng iba’t ibang mga usapin na kinakaharap ng mga mamamayang Pilipino at masinsin pong inaalam kung ano ang mga hakbang na kinakailangan upang sapat na proteksyon ang maibigay sa kanila," he said.

Most number OFW executions

Militant group, Migrante International, recorded Lana's death as the sixth execution of an OFW in death row under the present administration.

“This is a dark day for migrant Filipinos, especially for those in death row abroad. We call for an investigation on why there have been the most number of executions that pushed through under Pres. Benigno Aquino III’s term,” Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson said in a statement dated December 13.

The group claimed the present administration has the "most number of [OFW] executions... since the Philippine labor export policy was implemented in the 1970s."

The group said that 123 OFWs remains in death row in different countries.

Lana’s execution came five days before December 18, International Migrants’ Day, it added. — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza with a report from Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/LBG, GMA News