Palace Advises OFWs on Avoiding Lana Fate
MALACAÑANG yesterday renewed its appeal to Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to follow strictly the laws in their respective work places abroad even as it assured that the government exhausted all legal remedies to save the life of a Filipino beheaded in Saudi Arabia.
“Nananawagan po ang ating pamahalaan sa lahat ng ating mga kababayang nakatira o nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa na tumalima sa mga lokal na batas ng mga bansa kung saan sila naroon at iwasan po ‘yung pagkakaroon ng pagkasangkot sa mga kriminal na aktibidad para hindi na po maulit itong kalungkot-lungkot na pangyayaring ito,” Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. said yesterday.
Coloma also said that the Philippine government through our embassy there had done everything in the case of Carlito Lana.
Reports said that Lana was executed last week for shooting a Saudi national and then running him over with a car.
Coloma also said that allegations that the Aquino government failed to save Lana is unfortunate even as he insisted that it did everything in its power to save Lana.
“The government did everything to save Mr. Lana. We ensured he would be afforded his legal rights. Our embassy in Saudi got the services of Al Quwaizani law office to represent him in all the legal processes,” Coloma said.
He added the government also facilitated the travel of Lana’s mother to Saudi Arabia, noting that Lana’s mother was able to visit twice.
Coloma said financial help has also been extended to Lana’s family.
Lana was survived by his three children.
Coloma said the government is also monitoring other death row cases.
“Our Department of Foreign Affairs is looking at steps to secure the rights of OFWs on death row,” the Palace official said.