DU30 welcomes OFW pardon, return

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the release and return to the Philippines of two overseas Filipino workers (OFW) granted Royal Pardon in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

In a statement, Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje, said President Duterte extended his deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain for pardoning Roderick Aguinaldo and Edward Benjamin Garcia.

“Both Mr. Aguinaldo and Mr. Garcia are now back in the Philippines and will be able to start a new life with their respective families,” Borje said.

Prior to the granting of Royal Pardon to Mr. Aguinaldo and Mr. Garcia on the occasion of Eid’l Fitr, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa also ordered the stay of execution for Mr. Aguinaldo on 12 June 2018, upon President Duterte’s appeal or the commutation of the death sentence for Mr. Aguinaldo.

Borje said Mr, Aguinaldo and Mr. Garcia were serving sentence in Bahrain for the death of a foreign national.

At the same time, Borje said the Chief Executive lauded the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, the Special Envoy to the Gulf Cooperation Council Amable R. Aguiluz and the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs for the committed efforts leading to the eventual release and repatriation of Aguinaldo and Garcia.

“The President considers the Royal Pardon a testament to the deep ties between the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Bahrain and to the strong friendship with his Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa,” Borje said.

“The President remains committed to further strengthen PhilippinesBahrain bilateral ties across all areas of mutual interest, including in cooperation for the protection and promotion of the welfare of Filipinos in the Kingdom.