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MANILA, Philippines?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sending Vice President Noli De Castro to Kuwait to appeal for the life of a Filipina domestic worker whose death sentence was recently affirmed by the country?s highest court, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Sunday.
De Castro will carry a letter from the Pesident addressed to the Emir of Kuwait interceding for the life of Jakatia Pawa, who was convicted for stabbing to death Dala Al-Naqi, the 22-year old daughter of her Kuwaiti employer, on May 14, 2007.
Lawyers who defended Pawa believe that others who were close to the victim might have motives to kill the victim and not Pawa. This theory was bolstered by the fact that according to DNA tests, the blood found on the murder weapon did not match hers.
According to the DFA, negotiations with the victim?s family are ongoing for a tanazul (affidavit of forgiveness), a requirement to settle the private rights aspect of the case.
Last October 2009, the Office of the President approved the DFA?s recommendation for the payment of an undetermined amount of money as blood money so that negotiations for a tanazul may begin.
On April 14, 2008, the Kuwaiti Criminal Court (trial court) convicted and sentenced Pawa to death. The Kuwaiti Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the trial court on April 14, 2009.
During the trial, she was represented by two top law firms hired by Philippine embassy in Kuwait: the Khalil Al-Qattan Law Offices and forensic lawyers from Abdullah Al-Sabah Law Offices.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo recommended the Vice President?s personal appeal came after the Kuwaiti Court of Cassation affirmed the sentence last January 19.
In December 2007, the President and Romulo visited the Emir of Kuwait and interceded for her life.
During the state visit of the Prime Minister of Kuwait in August 2008, the President informed the Prime Minister that she will ask clemency for Pawa if and when there is final affirmation of her death sentence.
