Convicted OFW gets reprieve

MANILA, Philippines - The government of Saudi Arabia has deferred the death sentence of a Filipino worker convicted for killing a Sudanese national in 2009, to give him time to raise the blood money for his liberty, Vice President Jejomar Binay reported yesterday.

Binay said they were just waiting for the official announcement on the deferment of the death sentence of Joselito Zapanta who was sentenced to death by the Saudi Court of First Instance for the murder of Salah Imam Ibrahim.

“We have good news based on information that I got. The death sentence has been deferred,” he said in an interview.

He said the Saudi government came out with the decision shortly after President Aquino sent a letter to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud asking that Zapanta’s life be spared.

“The President has sent an appeal letter so let us give the credit to him,” Binay said, belying claims of militant migrant groups that the government has neglected the case of Zapanta.

“That is not correct. Records would show that the government has been there providing the necessary assistance, including providing Zapanta with legal counsel,” Binay said.

Meanwhile, Zapanta’s mother, Mona, and sister, Rosemay, yesterday left for Riyadh bringing with them a copy of Aquino’s letter.

Accompanied by Philippine embassy official Omar Pangarungan, the Zapanta’s left at 5:30 p.m. on board a Qatar Airlines flight QR 647.

Binay said the victim’s family has given Zapanta until today (Nov. 14) to raise the five million Saudi rial (around P55 million) blood money, insisting that the sentenced be carried out should the deadline not be met.

He expressed hope that the necessary blood money would be raised in time, adding that the Zapanta family and the Philippine government have, so far, raised 400,000 Saudi rial.  – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Rudy Santos