ACTS-OFW partylist seeks explanation from ‘blood money’ panel

John Bertiz, spokesperson of Acts-OFW party list group being interviewed by the media at the Senate hearing on the resolution inquiring into the status of the P23-million blood money raised to save the life of executed overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The ACTS-OFW Partylist on Friday asked President Benigino Aquino III to make public the works of the Technical Working Committee (TWG) he created to draw up clear-cut guidelines on the disposition of blood money for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on death row.

John Bertiz, official spokesman and second nominee of the ACTS-OFW Partylist, said the Philippine government should come up with a clear policy on the use of blood money (diyyah) given to the family of crime victims to mitigate a death sentence.

“It has been almost five years now since the TWG has been created but we are still at a loss on any guidelines that govern the disposition of blood money raised by the government and private donors for OFWs in death row,” he said.

“In cases where the blood money raised was not used because the victim’s family refuses to accept it, where would it go then? Can the unused amount be given for the scholarship of the executed OFWs children or a minor dependent? or help augment the Legal Assistance Fund,” he added.

In September 2011, Vice President Jejomar Binay, then concurrent presidential adviser on OFW affairs, had submitted the recommendations of the permanent TWG he headed for the use of blood money.

The blood money committee has the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Labor and Employment as its permanent members. The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) acts as its secretariat.

“To date, however, the President has yet to make public the TWG’s works and much less, to approve or come up with a clear policy on the use of blood money which is paid as compensation for the private aspect of the crimes committed by OFWs in Arab nations,” Bertiz added.

Senate hearing on the resolution inquiring into the status of the P23-million blood money raised to save the life of executed overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta. Senator Cynthia Villar (left, partly hidden) and OFW advocate Susan “Toots” Ople (seated third from right wearing black polo shirt) were present at the hearing. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO