The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it has requested from the Saudi authorities a list of jailed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who would be granted royal pardon.

“The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has requested Saudi authorities for a list of Filipinos in jail who would be granted royal pardon on the occasion of the return of the Saudi Crown Prince,” the DFA said in a statement Wednesday.

To mark the return of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz from medical treatment overseas, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued royal pardons last December 11, 2009.

DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed his deep appreciation for the benevolence and kindness of His Majesty King Abdullah and wished him and Crown Prince Sultan long life.

He also assured that the Philippine Government regularly requests for the inclusion of Filipinos in any pardon, especially before Ramadan, and when it knows that they have served at least half their sentences.

The DFA earlier assured that it will “redouble its efforts” in assisting jailed OFWs in Saudi Arabia for their inclusion in the royal pardon list.

The pardon will cover inmates charged with minor crimes and misdemeanors.

However, the pardon does not include those arrested for major crimes, or offenses liable for specific punishments under Shariah law (hadd crimes) or from lawsuits on private rights, such as theft, embezzlement, diyah and qisas.

There are about eight million Filipino migrant workers all over the world, an estimated 5,000 of whom are detained for various offenses.

Of these, 85 are on death row, 15 of whom are involved in murder cases and 60 in drug-related cases.