MANILA, Philippines – Self-defense ang dahilan ng pagpatay ng isang overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa biktima dahil sa business dispute, ayon sa Department of Foreign Affairs nitong Lunes, Nobyembre 4.
Matatandaan na ang naturang OFW sa binitay sa Saudi Arabia dahil sa murder noong Oktubre 5. Ang insidente ay nag-ugat sa isang financial dispute noong Oktubre 2020.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega na ang komprontasyon sa pagitan ng OFW at ng biktima ay “more serious than previously known.”
“The OFW was threatened, attacked, and beaten in his own residence by the victim over monetary issues. This prior assault by the victim would later compel the OFW to act in what he believed to be self-defense, resulting in the death of the victim,” ani De Vega, sa pakikipag-usap nito sa pamilya ng OFW.
Dagdag pa, ang hindi pagkakaunawaan ay humantong sa sakitan.
“While we cannot undo the heartbreaking outcome, we owe it to the OFW’s family to publicly acknowledge the full context of these events. May this clarification help provide some measure of peace to the family and to all those affected by this tragedy,” ani De Vega.
Tumanggi nang magbigay ng karagdagang impormasyon ang DFA kaugnay nito para na rin sa privacy ng pamilya.
“The Philippine government provided legal assistance and exhausted all possible remedies, including a presidential letter of appeal. But the victim’s family refused to accept blood money in return for forgiveness of the Filipino, and so the execution proceeded,” ayon sa DFA.
Ani De Vega, noong Oktubre ay naghain pa ng labor case ang Filipino worker laban sa employer nito bago ang pagbitay, kung saan inatasan ng local na korte sa Saudi Arabia na dapat magbayad ng 52,000 Saudi riyals (P790,000) ang employer sa OFW.
“Our lawyers will continue to explore options to obtain the amount directly from the employer and have it delivered to the family.” RNT/JGC
