28 October 2008 :

Migrante International (Migrante) lamented conflicting statements from the Philippines government on the fate of three Kapampangan natives from Mexico town, who are reportedly slated to be beheaded anytime in Saudi Arabia. Migrante spokesperson Garry Martinez told The Star that Edison Gonzalez, one of the three Filipinos set for beheading, confirmed by telephone that the Saudi Court of Appeals indeed recently upheld its initial verdict of 2007 calling for their execution. The other convicts are Edison’s brother Rolando Gonzalez and Eduardo Arcilla who have remained at Briman Prison in Jeddah. They claimed innocence and that they were severely tortured to force them to own up to the killing three other Filipino workers Romeo Lumbang, Jeremias Bucud and Dante Rivero also Kapampangans from Sta. Ana town in 2004. The Gonzalez brothers and Arcilla were initially found guilty by the Grand Sharia Court in Jeddah for the death of their three compatriots. "What we are afraid of is that the three could suffer the same fate as that of Reynaldo Cortez who was beheaded in Saudi in June, 2007, a few hours after he told us on the phone that he did not know when his execution would be," Martinez said. Prisoners under sentence of death may not be informed of the date of execution until the morning when they are taken out and beheaded, he said.