Manila, Philippines – President Benigno S. Aquino III has helped Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta who is facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia, but the latter is still in danger of being executed, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said Monday.
This developed as the heirs of Zapanta’s Sudanese victim have rejected the blood money offered by the OFW through the Philippine government, Binay said.
Citing protocol, Binay declined to reveal the amount of blood money offered by the Philippine government to the heirs of Zapanta’s victim.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
Binay, the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, said that the amount raised was “big enough” and much bigger than the SAR 520,831 raised previously by the government.
“Basta on our part, si Pangulo mismo e pumayag na magbigay nang medyo kalakihang halaga. Sa aming palagay eh sobra na talaga ang laki (on our part, the President himself contributed a significant amount. I believe we have raised a significant amount already),” Binay told reporters.
The heirs of Zapanta’s victim apparently want the whole amount of SAR 4 million (P45 million) they have demanded beforehand, he said.
Zapanta faces possible execution this month unless a settlement is reached with the heirs of his Sudanese victim.
Binay assured that the government will still pursue a “compromise” with the victim’s heirs so that Zapanta would be spared of death penalty.OFW POEA Work Abroad Echague Isabela
Zapanta was meted the death sentence for killing Imam Ibrahim, a Sudanese national.
Ibrahim’s family demanded SAR 5 million for a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness and prevent the imposition of the death penalty, but later reduced the amount to SAR 4 million.
The payment of the blood money was originally due on November 12, 2012, but was extended to March 12, 2013.
