Manila, June 12 -- An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia has been acquitted and safely repatriated to the Philippines following sustained legal and diplomatic efforts by the Philippine government.

In an interview during the Mega Job Fair in Quezon City on Thursday, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the OFW had been detained at the Riyadh General Jail since September 2023 over drug-related charges and was convicted in September 2024.

The OFW was acquitted early this year and repatriated to the Philippines on June 10.

"We're happy. He's from Mindanao. We're happy that he will finally be reunited with his family. And of course, tinulungan natin siya. Magaling yun...