Filipinos laud 3-month stay of OFW’s execution

The Philippine government expressed its gratitude to the Kingdom for the second extension of the deadline of execution of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta, who remains on death row.
Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago told Arab News yesterday that the “Philippine Embassy is thankful to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Emir’s Office for their efforts in facilitating the amicable settlement.”
“We also thank King Abdullah and the Emir’s Office for the forgiveness, as well as the extension of the deadlines, allowing the maximum period of settlement of the amount,” the Filipino envoy said.
King Abdullah had earlier ordered the postponement of the execution of Zapanta for killing a Sudanese national in 2009.
With King Abdullah’s order, Zapanta has been given a three-month reprieve.
This means that since the second deadline was yesterday, the new three-month moratorium will end on June 8. “The postponement of the execution gives time for the family to comply with the terms of forgiveness. May Allah keep the Custodian of the Two Mosques in good health so that he’ll achieve more success,” the Filipino envoy said.
The deferment would give Zapanta’s family more time to raise the needed P44-million blood money required to save his life. So far, only P10 million has been raised.
Tago also thanked King Abdullah for having earlier pledged SR 2.3 million as part of the blood money to be paid to the family of Mohamad Qahtani, an Arab national, who was killed in June 2000 by Don Don Lanuza who claimed self-defense.
Benny Quaimbao, area commander for the order of the Knights of Rizal of Saudi Arabia, said it would be difficult to come up with the blood money.
“The amount is too much to be raised in three months but we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he said.
Alex Bellow, president of the OFW Congress in Riyadh, echoed Quaimbao’s concerns. “I am skeptical that the funds can be raised.”
The Philippine ambassador said that in connection with Zapanta’s case, he and other Philippine Embassy officials met with Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al-Gaeit, assistant to the Undersecretary for Public Rights of the Emir’s Office.
It is believed that the three-month moratorium on death sentence may be due to the fact that there is a new governor.
Saudi tradition dictates that no death sentence will be carried out for a maximum of three months into the new governor’s term.
In Manila, presidential adviser on OFW issues and Task Force OFW head Vice-President Jejomar Binay hailed the humanitarian gesture of King Abdullah and the Emir’s Office.
“Because of the King’s order to defer all the execution of all qizas or death penalty, Zapanta has been given another three-month reprieve,” he said.
Binay also cited the efforts of the Philippine government, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the assistance of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under the leadership of Secretary Alberto del Rosario.

Earlier yesterday, Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesman, said the government had requested for the extension of the deadline for the blood money payment to save Zapanta’s life.
Presidential deputy spokesperson Abigal Valte said in a text message to the media on Monday that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino lll had also sent a letter dated March 5, to King Abdullah for the deferment of Zapanta’s sentence. Zapanta’s mother also sent a letter to King Abdullah.