Unless help comes, OFW may be executed this month, says Binay

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Jailed Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta in Saudi Arabia could be executed in January as the blood money has yet to be paid and the deadline has long passed, Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a renewed appeal for help.

“Once again, I ask everyone to help raise funds for Joselito Zapanta. Let us start this year by helping save the life of a fellow Filipino and bringing joy to his family,” Binay, presidential adviser on migrant workers’ concerns, said in a statement Thursday.

Zapanta could be executed anytime this January since the deadline for the payment of the blood money has passed last November 3, 2013 after being extended twice.

Two million Saudi Riyal is being demanded by the family of Imam Ibrahim, a Sudanese national and Zapanta’s landlord, who was killed back in 2009 after an argument on rental payment with Zapanta.

Some 1.48 million Saudi Riyal or P17.5 million still needs to be raised as the Philippine government has raised 520,831 Saudi Riyal so far.

“Ibrahim’s family demanded SAR 5 million for the execution of a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness and prevent the imposition of the death penalty, but later reduced the amount to SAR 4 million,” Binay said in his statement.

The two million currently being raised is an amount still being renegotiated with the family.

Binay said that that if Zapanta can present a higher amount than what has been currently raised, Ibrahim’s family might reconsider and accept the offer.

“The payment of the blood money was originally due on November 12, 2012, but was extended to March 12, 2013. A second extension was granted, with the deadline moved to November 3, 2013,” he said.

Donations for Zapanta may be made to the Riyadh Philippine Embassy’s sub-account in the Saudi Hollandi Bank: Account Number 037-040-790-022, International Bank Account Number (IBAN): SA 61-5000-0000-0370-4079-0022, Swift Code: AAALSARI