05/01/2010 | 02:16 PM
Philippine authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are helping four overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) convicted of harboring a fellow OFW who killed an Indian in Jeddah.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the four had been arrested for harboring the fellow OFW accused of killing the Indian and wounding another. [See: RP Consulate General in Jeddah Assisting 4 OFWs in Saudi Jail]
Citing a report from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, the DFA identified the four as Roque Garcia, Conrado Cortez, Levi Pamarisan and Riel Roxas.
It said the four were jailed at the Jeddah General Prison after they were convicted of harboring Alberto del Rosario, who allegedly killed an Indian and wounded another on February 29, 2009.
"Garcia, Cortez, Pamarisan and Roxas were sentenced to serve one year in jail, while Del Rosario was meted the death penalty," the DFA said.
While the four OFWs served their respective jail terms, Saudi authorities informed the Consul General they could not be released until after their case is separated from the criminal case against Del Rosario.
The Consul General said the lawyer the DFA hired for the case is working with Saudi prosecutors to have the case against Garcia, Cortez, Pamarisan and Roxas separated from that of Del Rosario's, which is under appeal.
"Contrary to earlier reports, Mr. Del Rosario was neither turned away by the Consulate General nor did he surrender to the Consulate General. He went there merely for advice after the incident happened. After being informed of his options, he left the Consulate General's premises without giving any information as to where he was going," the DFA said.
Del Rosario's case is on appeal with the Court of Cassation (Court of Appeals) and may be further appealed up to the Supreme Judicial Council (Supreme Court). — LBG, GMANews.TV
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