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MANILA, Philippines—An overseas Filipino workers (OFW) group announced it would stage simultaneous vigils in Taiwan and Manila on Monday in support of an appeal for commutation of the death sentence imposed on a Filipino teacher to life imprisonment.
Taiwan’s appellate court is expected to rule on Monday on a motion to stay the execution of Cecila Alcaraz of Liliw, Laguna, who was convicted of murdering her job broker in 2005.
Migrante International chair Garry Martinez said the group’s Taiwan chapter will hold a vigil to be attended by Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan who flew to Taiwan over the weekend to visit Alcaraz.
In Manila, the vigil will be held starting at 11 a.m. in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Pasay City. Workers blame the government for not providing adequate legal services to Alcaraz.
Death by handgun shooting
On Sept. 30, 2008, Alcaraz was sentenced to “death by handgun shooting” by the district court of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. She and her American boyfriend David Fillion were charged with murdering and robbing her friend and job broker, Chiu Mei-yun, on Sept. 17 the year before.
The charge against Fillion was later dropped and he was released. He eventually returned to the United States, where he reportedly committed suicide.
“Sunday would be a great day to cheer with the Filipino people for [the victory of boxer] Manny Paquiao, but Cecilia needs us and we would rather exert all our efforts to save her life,” Martinez told reporters.
The Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (Kasammako), an OFW group in South Korea, joined Migrante in demanding the Philippine government intercede in behalf of Alcaraz.
Exhaust all means
“Assistance to migrant workers such as legal services, like what could have been given to Ms Alcaraz, were not adequately and properly provided and committed. We thus call on the President to intercede in the case of Cecilia and exhaust all possible means to save her life and ask for a commutation of her penalty to life imprisonment if found guilty,” Kasamako said in a statement sent to the Inquirer.
Martinez said the group feared the verdict would not be favorable to Cecilia since her lawyer and Philippine government officials reportedly failed to attend an important hearing on April 1.
“Heads must roll for Cecilia being left alone to defend herself in the crucial hearing before the final verdict. These officials should be held liable whatever the verdict may be this Monday,” Martinez said.
He said Ilagan would try to talk to Taiwanese officials to plead Alcaraz’s case.
Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos, on the other hand, said the government was doing all it could to help Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, a mother of four, worked as a domestic helper in 2001 when she first came to Taiwan. She returned in 2005 as an English teacher.
Martinez said Alcaraz could still appeal to the Taiwanese Supreme Court if the appellate court affirms the death sentence.
“However, Taiwan’s supreme court does not have a history of overturning death penalty decisions. This makes it very important that the Arroyo administration exert all possible means to save the life of Alcaraz,” he said.
Last week, Migrante hosted two of Alcaraz’s children who called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to intervene in their mother’s case.
