PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has pledged a substantial amount to augment the blood money raised by the Philippine government to save from the death row in Saudi Arabia overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague IsabelaThis was announced yesterday by Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is concurrently presidential adviser on OFW concerns. He declined to reveal though how much the President has pledged or how much the government has raised so far so as not to jeopardize ongoing negotiations with the family of the victim.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
“On our part, si Pangulo mismo, pumayag na magbigay nang medyo kalakihang halaga. Sa aming pa-lagay, sobra na talaga ang laki,” he said.
While there are reports that the victim’s family insists that they be paid SAR 4 million or P48 million, Binay said: “Magpupursige pa rin tayo na magkaroon ng compromise. Panalangin natin baka sakaling may pamamaraan pang magkasundo. Kasi, ’yung pamil-ya, ang gusto ay buong halaga.”
It will be recalled that Zapanta was sentenced to death for killing Imam Ibrahim, a Sudanese national. Ibrahim’s family initially demanded SAR 5 million in exchange for a ‘tanazul’ or affidavit of forgiveness and prevent the imposition of the death penalty, but later agreed to reduce the amount to SAR 4 million.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
Originally, the payment of the blood money was due on Nov. 12, 2012, but was extended to March 12, 2013. A second extension was granted, with the deadline moved to Nov. 3, 2013.
If the blood money being demanded by the victim’s family is not raised immediately, Binay feared that Zapanta may be executed this month.
