"It's a terrible tragedy."
This was what President Marcos said on the execution of a Filipino in Saudi Arabia for murder, stressing that the government did everything it can to no avail.
"There was very little we had left to do, we had few options left. We tried everything and for many many years," Marcos said in an interview on Tuesday, Oct. 8, adding that the case has been going on for five to years now.
"Saudi tried to exhaust all possibilities, so did we but to no avail," he added.
The President said the Philippine Government had appealed to the Saudi government to have another look into the case but the conviction stood and the execution was not stopped.
"The Saudi government really tried to look and to be sure that the judgement was actually deserved and nonetheless, we appealed to the better nature, I guess, of our friends in Saudi Arabia to perhaps have another look and they did," he said.
"Unfortunately, the law there is very strict and apparently, the conviction has stood and one of ours has been taken away. Yes, very unfortunate," he added.
Marcos also offered his thoughts and prayers to the bereaved family, and told them that the government will provide assistance.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with them and we will...there's nothing that one can do to make to whole but we will do our best," he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Tuesday that a Filipino have been executed in Saudi Arabia for the murder of a Saudi national.