News Release - June 8, 2005
References: Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, 0927-2157392
Vince Borneo, Information Officer, 0927-7968198

Pres. Arroyo must sack officials who neglected Rey Cortez and other OFWs in Saudi Arabian death row

While appealing to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to do all possible diplomatic means to save OFW Reynaldo Cortez, the MIGRANTE Sectoral Party also pushed for "the immediate dismissal of negligent officials who do not attend to distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia."

"Reynaldo Cortez, was abandoned by the President's alter-ego representatives in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. The same goes for the 1,115 jailed OFWs in Saudi Arabia. Pres. Arroyo must move to save Cortez, and immediately fire Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo and Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla," MIGRANTE Sectoral Party chairperson Connie Bragas-Regalado said.

Cortez, a 39-year old Bicolano and resident of Guagua, Pampanga, was working as a car body technician in Riyadh before his arrest. He killed a Pakistani taxi driver in self-defense in 2002 and was sentenced to death by a Riyadh high court last May 30, 2005.

"Cortez was arrested for the alleged murder of the unnamed Pakistani taxi driver in May 2002. Saudi Arabian police shot Rey twice in the left foot even after he already raised his arms to surrender. Not a note of concern and appropriate action was ever extended by the DFA to Cortez. He was not even paid a prison visit by Amb. Guinomla. His ordeal was even heightened as no embassy representative was present in the last two court hearings of his case," Bragas-Regalado said.

In December 22, 2003, Cortez was sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes. He filed an appeal in the Riyadh Appellate Court. On November 27, 2004, the court, on hearing his claim that he had killed the taxi driver in an act of self-defense, reduced his jail sentence to 10 years.

On May 11, 2005, Riyadh Grand Court Judge Muhahmmad Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh asked the brother of the victim if the family would be willing to accept blood money of 100,000 Saudi Riyals (P1.453 million), but the brother rejected the offer or any other amount of money. The family insisted on the death sentence by beheading.

Under Shariah law, as regards private right, the victim's family has the option of pardoning the killer and accepting blood money, in which case the death sentence can be annulled.

"President Macapagal-Arroyo must immediately intervene and seek out Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to plead with the relatives of the victim to forgive Cortez," Bragas-Regalado pressed.

MIGRANTE also pushed for "the fullest diplomatic intervention for all the 1,115 overseas Filipinos - including 12 in death row - who are in various jails across Saudi Arabia must be done by Arroyo."

"These OFWs, like Rey Cortez, were forced to leave the Philippines to find jobs abroad in order to feed their families and in effect help prop up the economy with their dollar remittances. The least thing that Malacanang can do is extend free, timely, appropriate and full assistance to Cortez and all distressed Filipino migrant workers and their families," Bragas-Regalado ended. #