OFW on Saudi death row gets another reprieve

MANILA, Philippines - The government was given another one month to raise blood money for an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) facing death penalty in Saudi Arabia, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.

Binay, also presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said the negotiation to spare Joselito Zapanta from execution is getting better.

“We were given another one month extension. Zapanta may not be executed anymore,” he said.

Zapanta was sentenced to death for killing Sudanese Imam Ibrahim.

President Aquino had earlier donated a substantial amount to help save Zapanta from death.

Binay remains optimistic that Zapanta will be saved from death despite the insistence of the victim’s family that they be paid SAR 4 million or P48 million.

The government is currently negotiating with the victim’s family to lower the amount.

The Vice President earlier welcomed President Aquino’s creation of a committee tasked to study and put up guidelines on the payment of blood money for OFWs on death row in Arab countries.