President Arroyo on Wednesday gave instructions to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to extend assistance to the family of a beheaded overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia.

“You can be sure, for one thing, the family who will go there to claim the body will be assisted in every manner possible to be able to bring home the remains of Bidoya,” said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Filipino migrant worker Jenifer Bidoya, who was convicted of murder in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was executed Tuesday despite appeals made by the Arroyo government.

“And I am very sure that there will be other assistance other than just physical arrangement,” Ermita said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said Bidoya, also known as Venancio Ladion, was executed at 10 a.m. Saudi time.

The death sentence was affirmed by the Tameez Court (Appellate Court) and the Supreme Judicial Council (Supreme Court) on 21 April 2008, despite appeals filed by the lawyer hired by the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah to represent Bidoya before the Emir of Makkah, the Governor of Jeddah, and the Minister of Interior.

Ermita defended the government saying it exerted all efforts to spare the life of Bidoya.

“I am very sure there were efforts exerted by DFA,” he said. “Meron na tayong one absolute pardon, three conditional pardons and parole, at 18 commutation of sentences.”

Ermita also read a press statement issued by the DFA regarding Bidoya’s punishment. It said two letters were sent by President Arroyo to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud requesting clemency for Bidoya and a deferment of issuance of Royal Decree of Execution.

The president also asked King Abdullah to designate an officer of the Royal Court to help convince the victim’s family to extend forgiveness in exchange for blood money.

“Before the king does that (commute the sentence), itatanong sa bereaved families sa ilalim ng tinatawag na tanazul kung papayag na magbigay ng blood money in replacement of the death of the relative,” he explained.

However, in spite of the efforts, the victim’s family was adamant in refusing to forgive Bidoya and insisted on the right to an imposition of the penalty, he said.