The family of Jenifer Bedoya, the overseas Filipino worker executed in Saudi Arabia recently, was dealt a double blow when they learned his remains may not be repatriated and that the Philippine embassy failed to provide him a lawyer during his trial.

Vice-President Noli de Castro admitted Sunday it would be difficult to repatriate Bedoya's body.

"Tinanong ko na ang [Department of Foreign Affairs] diyan kung may mga kaso ba na nadala sa Pilipinas ang bangkay kapag [beheaded]. Wala pa yatang kasong ganoon. Pero nakikiusap tayo. Kung pagbibigyan, 'yun ang problema," de Castro said.

But what made Bedoya's case sadder was the admission by no less that Consul General Ezzedin Tago that the migrant worker was not given a lawyer when his case was still at the lower court.

It was learned that Bedoya only had a translator to assist him.

Bedoya was beheaded for killing an Arab national, supposedly in self-defense.

“Noong umaapela na ho tayo, ano ibig sabihin nun? Wala  tayong abogadong naibigay kaagad noong nagsisimula pa lang ang kaso sa korte?,” de Castro asked Tago via telephone during the Vice-President's radio dzMM program "Para Sa 'Yo Bayan" on Sunday.

“Merong translator po,” Tago said.

“Bakit umabot dun sa apela, doon lang tayo nagbigay ng abogado?” de Castro asked again.

“Ang alam ko nakontrata noong appeal but… before that may translator po noong pre-trial at tatlong court hearing po,” Tago said.

Tago said Philippine officials tried everything to get the family of Bedoya's victim to forgive him, but failed.

Case of OFW in Taiwan death row 'on appeal'

Meanwhile, the family of English teacher Cecilia Alcaraz remains hopeful that the court will find her innocent.

Alcaraz was convicted by a Taiwanese court for murder and robbery but the sentence is not yet final and executory.

“Hindi pa po final, hindi pa final, appealable, we have appealed… as soon as nabalitaan namin, nag-engage na kami ng services ng lawyer, so he was present during the preliminary investigation, and he also represented her during the trial... we have two lawyers,” Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan managing director Ambassador Antonio Basilio, said in a phone interview on dzMM Sunday.

The MECO in Taiwan has been helping Alcaraz and her family.

Her elder brother Jesus is scheduled to fly to Taiwan to personally attend the hearing for their appeal.

There are 29 cases of OFWs on the death row. MIgrant workers' advocate Migrante International said five of these cases are priorities.

These include the case of Dondon Lanuza in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Gonzales siblings and Eduardo Arcilla also in Saudi Arabia, and Alcaraz. Rod Macenas, ABS-CBN News