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Marcos regime is accountable for death penalty of OFW in Saudi Arabia

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Migrante International held the Marcos regime accountable for its failure to prevent the execution of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia on October 5. According to the group, this adds to the long list of cases caused by the Philippines’ five-decade-old labor-export program.

The OFW was imprisoned in Saudi Arabia in 2020 for allegedly killing a Saudi national over a money dispute. According to Amnesty International, at least 198 individuals have been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia this year, the highest number since the 1990s.

“While Filipino migrants mourn the death of their fellow countryman, we hold the Marcos government accountable for its failure to save the life of another migrant. Furthermore, Marcos Jr failed to assert the repatriation of his remains,” Migrante International said.

The group added that the Philippine government was pathetically not aware that the execution of the OFW was to be carried out on October 5. “The OFW’s family did not even have the opportunity to say goodbye or say their prayers,” the group said.

This is proof that the Marcos government is incapable of protecting OFWs who are forced to work abroad, and their families, according to the group.

The government has deployed millions of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia for decades, many of whom become victims of exploitation, abuse, discrimination, criminalization and even murder. “They do not receive justice because of slow government action and lack of timely legal assistance,” the group said.

“The administration of Marcos Jr is spineless,” Migrante International emphasized. The regime’s bowing to the rules of Saudi Arabia, which refused to repatriate the OFW’s remains to the Philippines, sends a discouraging message to Filipinos who currently face unjust detention and death row overseas.

“Our right to life, dignity, protection and justice must be persistently asserted by the Marcos Jr government no matter what host country we are working in,” the migrant group said.

AB: Marcos regime is accountable for death penalty of OFW in Saudi Arabia