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A convicted Filipino drug mule, who was granted clemency by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, came home to his family in Manila on Monday, sources said.
The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose name was not revealed, was released on Sunday, Manila's foreign affairs department said, quoting the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. The embassy agreed to the request of his family not to release his name, the Philippine Star said, adding that he "tearfully thanked" the embassy officials for his freedom. He had been in prison for three years.
King Abdullah granted Royal Clemency to the Filipino after his name was put up before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said the Star.
A tribunal of three judges had sentenced the Filipino to be beheaded in November 2009, after he was arrested for receiving a shabu-laced postal package in February 2008. Later, members of the tribunal reduced his death penalty to 15 years imprisonment, 1500 lashes and a fine of 100,000 Saudi riyals.
This is the third time that King Abdullah has pardoned a sentenced OFW. He had earlier granted clemency to Michael Roque, released in February 2011, and to Nonito Abono, freed in November 2010.
They are part of a nine-million strong OFW community, who send an estimated $18 million (Dh64.8 million) to their loved ones in the Philippines annually.
The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose name was not revealed, was released on Sunday, Manila's foreign affairs department said, quoting the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh. The embassy agreed to the request of his family not to release his name, the Philippine Star said, adding that he "tearfully thanked" the embassy officials for his freedom. He had been in prison for three years.
King Abdullah granted Royal Clemency to the Filipino after his name was put up before the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said the Star.
A tribunal of three judges had sentenced the Filipino to be beheaded in November 2009, after he was arrested for receiving a shabu-laced postal package in February 2008. Later, members of the tribunal reduced his death penalty to 15 years imprisonment, 1500 lashes and a fine of 100,000 Saudi riyals.
This is the third time that King Abdullah has pardoned a sentenced OFW. He had earlier granted clemency to Michael Roque, released in February 2011, and to Nonito Abono, freed in November 2010.
They are part of a nine-million strong OFW community, who send an estimated $18 million (Dh64.8 million) to their loved ones in the Philippines annually.
