Filipino on Saudi Arabia death row appeals P25 M to spare life

Just days before Christmas, an overseas Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia who is currently on death row is seeking financial help from the public to be spared from execution.

Joselito Zapanta, who worked as tile-setter in Saudi Arabia in 2007, was arrested and sentenced to death for the murder of his Sudanese landlord after a heated altercation over rent in June 2009.

His landlord’s widow sought blood money amounting to 5 million Saudi Riyal or equivalent to P50 million, which was later reduced to P48 million. With the help of the government, Zapanta’s family was able to raise P23 million, still P25-million short of the demand.

Senatorial aspirant Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said Zapanta’s mother and sister sought the help of the organization to publicize their appeal to the media.

“Unfortunately, the Sudanese family has refused any amount lower than their demand of P48 million. This means that the Zapanta family needs to raise P25 million in a span of two weeks, or maybe less, considering that a royal decree had already been issued for the implementation of the sentence,” Ople said.

“Joselito called me up yesterday to seek help and gave permission for the family to make the necessary media rounds with the hope that some good Samaritans would be able to help them. The amount is so huge and the family is really cash-strapped and extremely poor,” she added.

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Ople said she was able to confirm the urgency of Zapanta’s case herself through the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

“Last Monday, I was in Riyadh to meet with Philippine Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin Tago. He confirmed that Joselito’s case has become extremely urgent. We are talking about weeks here, hence the need for the family to go public in order to seek everyone’s help,” she said.

Those who wish to contribute to the blood money to be given to the Sudanese family may deposit or remit any amount to the Philippine Embassy account at Saudi Hollandi Bank, 037-040-790-022, or contact the Ople Center for more information. CDG

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