The Philippine embassy officials in Saudi Arabia  have been urged to investigate the claim of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) that he was tortured by authorities in the Kingdom to force him to confess his involvement in the killing of a fellow OFW.

Rogelio Gonzales has strongly denied taking part in the murder of a Filipina OFW in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, last August, Manila Bulletin quoted United Overseas Filipinos Worldwide (U-OFW) convener John Monterona as saying.

Gonzales has been arrested as prime suspect in the killing of the Filipina, who was not named, the report said.

The 40-year old native of Davao reportedly said he only admitted of committing the crime after being tortured by his captors on August 31.

Monterona was quoted as saying that the Philippine embassy in Riyadh has hired a lawyer to represent Gonzales.

“It is too early to tell if OFW Rogelio was guilty of the crime charged against him as the case is still under investigation,” Monterona reportedly said.  “We would like the PH embassy through its local hired lawyer to dig and verify on Rogelio’s claim as this was a murder case punishable by death.”

He reportedly said he learned from Gonzales’ wife, Charrymi, that the family of the murdered Filipina is demanding blood money as compensation for the crime.

Charrymi has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to provide assistance to her husband, reported Manila Bulletin.

Last year, another Filipino migrant worker, Joselito Zapanta, was executed in Saudi Arabia after the family of the Sudanese he killed refused to accept the blood money offered by the Philippine government in exchange for forgiving him from his crime, the report said.

Share This Post