Binay appeals for ‘blood money’ for doomed Filipino

Vice President Jejomar Binay. FILE PHOTO

Vice President Jejomar Binay is appealing to people to help the government raise P44 million to help save the life of a Filipino worker who needs the amount to pay the family of a Sudanese national he had killed in 2009.

In his Christmas message, Binay said while the family of the Sudanese national killed by Joselito Zapanta in 2009 had lowered from P50 million to P44 million to secure their forgiveness as well as gave them until March next year to pay up, the blood money was “still a substantial amount.’’

“Our generosity especially during this season of sharing will go a long way in saving this young man’s life,’’ Binay said of 33-year-old Zapanta.

The government had already deposited in Saudi Arabia about P4 million, the standard amount for blood money cases that qualify for government assistance.

Binay disclosed that a “kindhearted private individual’’ donated P1 million a few days ago and the money had since been deposited in a Saudi bank account opened by the Philippine embassy in Riyadh.

He also said the Save Zapanta Fund had gotten a P7,900 donation from 400 OFW families who attended a Christmas party organized by the Blas Ople Center.

Likewise, there was an ongoing fund-raising campaign by the provincial government of Pampanga for Zapanta, who hails from Bacolor, Pampanga.