The pair was later released and cannot be tried because they have diplomatic immunity.
Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, which has a significant expat community. Saudi treatment of Filipino workers in the kingdom has caused tensions between the two countries, including the Philippines once temporarily banning its citizens from working there until labour rights were improved.
Saudi newspaper Arab News said an Arabic daily reported on Tuesday that the Philippine government had formally apologised to the Saudi government and promised to investigate the matter, take legal action against the officers involved and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Saudi Ambassador to Manila Abdullah Al Hassan had earlier handed a letter of protest to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippines’ Ambassador in Riyadh.
According to reports, the Saudi Embassy considers the raid a violation of international law and the Vienna Convention.
