Duterte meets with family of OFW detained in Bahrain

President Rodrigo Duterte met with the family of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) detained in Bahrain for killing a Pakistani national, Malacañang said Friday.

According to a Palace press statement, Duterte led the the send off on Thursday for the family of Roderick Aguinaldo at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before flying to Leyte for the distribution of benefits to former rebels.

Aguinaldo’s parents, wife, and two daughters will travel to Bahrain on Saturday after the Bahraini government allowed them to conduct the visit. He has been in detention for three years.

On Wednesday, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council Amable Aguiluz V extended financial assistance to Aguinaldo’s family. Aguinaldo’s three children also received scholarships from Aguiluz.

The Palace said Aguinaldo’s family first sought the help of Go in 2018 when he was still the Special Assistant to the President.

“After consulting the matter with President Duterte, the latter appealed to the Bahraini king to commute Aguinaldo’s sentence. The Bahraini government vowed not to carry out capital punishment,” the statement said. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News