Two Saudi millionaires pay blood money to free Filipino

RIYADH: Two Saudi millionaires have reportedly paid SR225,000 in blood money to free a Filipino man who had killed an Indian national in a car accident.

The men donated the blood money requested by the victim’s relatives. The Filipino man was working for the firm of the Saudi citizens. A local court has sent a letter to the prison to release the Filipino and consider the case closed, according to a report published by an online news channel.

The Filipino man was driving a van in Al-Rass town in central Saudi Arabia, when he hit the pedestrian, killing him instantly, according to the report, but did not specify when the incident took place.

The Philippine Embassy has issued its thanks for the generous gesture. However, Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago, in a message to Arab News on Friday, could not confirm the donation. “The money could have been made directly to the prison as an act of charity,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a separate case, the mother of Joselito Zapanta, the Filipino on death row in Riyadh, has pleaded for help to raise the rest of the blood money needed to save her son from execution.

In an interview, the mother said they have so far raised P23 million (less than SR2 million) of the P49 million (SR4 million) sought by the family of the Sudanese national Imam Ibrahim who was murdered in 2009 in Riyadh after an argument over rental payment. 

According to Zapanta’s mother, the money collected can be sent to the Philippine Embassy’s account at a local Saudi bank.

The Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, a non-profit organization assisting distressed overseas foreign workers, had issued an appeal to raise the blood money.

Source:  Arab News

Poe to Hong Kong OFWs: ‘I Will Not Steal’

“Makakaasa kayo na hindi ako magnanakaw at lahat ng kita ng gobyerno, bawat sentimo ay mapupunta sa benepisyo ng ating mga kababayan. Iyan po ang palaki sa atin ng aking tatay na si FPJ.”

(Rest assured that I will not steal government money, and every centavo will benefit all our countrymen. That was how I was raised by my father, FPJ.)

This was the pledge presidential hopeful Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares said on Saturday to Filipinos based in Hong Kong once she gets elected to lead the country.

FPJ, of course, was Fernando Poe Jr, Ms. Poe-Llamanzares’ late father who also ran the presidential race in 2004 but lost to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Spending the holidays with her family, Ms Poe-Llamanzares was invited to speak in a gathering of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong’s Central business district. Relating to the plight of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who have spent time away from family, Poe admitted to formerly working abroad. After finishing her graduate studies in the United States, Ms Poe-Llamanzares worked there and eventually gained US citizenship. Upon her father’s death in Dec. 2004, she returned to the Philippines and revoked her US citizenship. She later took the role as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board in 2010. She won a seat in the Senate in 2013.

“Salamat sa inyong tulong dahil kung hindi dahil sa OFWs, ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay matagal nang tumiklop.”

(Thanks for your help, if not for the OFW, the Philippine economy would have long collapsed.)

“Matagal din akong tumira sa ibang bansa, at naiintindihan ko ang inyong kalagayan. Kasama ng Migrante, ng iba nating mga senador na tumatakbo, itutulak namin ang mga makakabuti para sa OFWs—na bumaba ang fees nyo at yung mga kailangan nyo tulad ng health benefits ay matulungan kayo ng gobyerno.”

(I also lived away from family for long so I understand your situation. Along with Migrante [a migrant worker advocate group], and other senatorial candidates, we will push for lowering fees and addressing needs such as health benefits that the government will provide.) 

Source: http://www.pinoy-ofw.com/

Pinay DH sa Singapore na ginugutom umano ng kanyang mga amo, nakatakas

Source: GMA News

DFA: Pinoy worker Joselito Zapanta executed in Saudi

   Photos from Susan Toots Ople Page

Saudi Arabia has executed Joselito Zapanta, the Filipino construction worker sentenced to death in April 2010 for killing a Sudanese national over a rental dispute the previous year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs regrets to inform the public of the execution of Filipino national, Mr. Joselito Lidasan Zapanta, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 29 December 2015," the DFA said in a statement.

"We offer our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones for their loss," it added.

The DFA said Zapanta, 35, a father of two, was sentenced to death over murder and robbery after the family of the victim, Imam Ibrahim,  refused to execute an Affidavit of Forgiveness or Tanazul in exchange for blood money.

Body will not be repatriated

In a phonepatch interview on radio dzBB, DFA Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said Zapanta was executed at exactly 2:20 p.m. Tuesday (Philippine time) after he was found guilty of the case of murder with robbery by the Riyadh Grand Court in April 2010.

Jose said Zapanta's remains was buried immediately after the execution as part of the common practice of the Saudi government and in accordance with the burial tradition of Islam. He said Zapanta had converted to Islam years ago.

“Agad na pong inilibing si Joselito Zapanta. Unang una, yung mga binibitay po sa Saudi ay karaniwang doon na din talaga inililibing. At pangalawa si Joselito po ay nag-pa convert na sa Islam,” Jose said.

He added: "Hindi na po maibabalik ang katawan dito [sa Pilipinas]."

Based on the dzBB report, the government failed to satisfy the P48 million blood money for the victim's family set by the Riyadh court in exchange for Zapanta's life.

In an interview with GMA News Online last December 16, Zapanta's mother Mona appealed for help as they have so far raised P23 million of the P48 million being asked by the victim's family.

Jose said the DFA has already informed Zapanta's family in the Philippines about the execution.

He clarified that even the Philippine government was not made aware of the exact day and time of Zapanta's execution.

“Alam po natin na anytime [ay pwede siyang bitayin] since yung pamilya nga po ng biktima ay tumanggi sa pagpirma ng affidavit of forgiveness. But practice po sa Saudi 'yan that they don't announce the exact date and time of the execution,” he said.

Gov't assistance provided

According to the DFA, the Philippine Government has "undertaken and exhausted all diplomatic and legal efforts, and extended consular and legal assistance to preserve the life of Mr. Zapanta."

It said the government had provided the Zapanta all necessary assistance and ensured that his legal rights were observed throughout the whole judicial process.

Among the assistance extended to Zapanta and his family was the facilitation and funding for the jail visits of his mother and sister to the Malaz Central Prison on November 28 to December 2, 2015, and on March 8 2013 and in November 2012.

With Zapanta's execution, the DFA reiterated its appeal to all Filipinos overseas to "follow the local laws of their host countries at all times and to avoid involvement in criminal activities."

Source:  GMA News