Bishop appeals to DFA to save Filipina sentenced to death in Saudi
By Leslie Ann AquinoÂ
A Catholic bishop is hoping that the government of Saudi Arabia will grant clemency to the Filipina household worker whose death sentence was recently affirmed by the Court of Appeals of the said country.
Bishop Ruperto Santos
(CBCP / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We turn to God in prayers that He may move the KSA government to be merciful and grant clemency to our Filipina,” Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said in a statement.
The prelate appealed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust all ways and means to save her.
“She has to be helped and assisted. Let us try everything to save her,” said Santos.
The CBCP official also said that there should be a thorough investigation as to why the Filipina was recruited when she was still a minor.
“A thorough investigation should be done especially how she allowed to travel out of the country,” Santos said.
“Placement agencies should be made accountable for whatever will happen to those OFWs they have sent to other countries,” he added.
“Her agency and the recruiters should be held liable,” said Santos.
Last week, the Saudi Court of Appeals affirmed the 2017 death sentence for the Filipina, who was found guilty of killing her female employer in Makkah three years ago.
The DFA has already committed to exhaust all diplomatic and legal remedies in order to save the Filipina.