Freed OFW says she never lost hope while in UAE prison

Jennifer Dalquez, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was released from prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said Friday that she never lost hope that she would return home someday and be with her family again.

Dalquez said that her faith in God never waver despite being imprisoned after she was found guilty of killing her employer, a crime she had since insisted as self-defense.

“Actually ang nararamdaman ko may pag-asa pa akong makalabas. Alam ko na hindi ko sadya ‘yun, alam ko na ang Panginoon tutulungan niya akong makalabas,” Dalquez said in a press briefing shortly after she landed in the Philippines.

“Hindi ko po naramdaman na bibitayin ako. Ang naramdaman ko po ay may kalayaan pa po akong darating sa buhay ko. Wala po akong feeling na hopeless po ako, sa sarili ko kasi umaasa pa rin ako sa Panginoon na makalabas ako,” she added.

In 2014, Dalquez was arrested after stabbing to death her employer whom she said was trying to rape her. UAE’s Court of First Instance sentenced her to death on May 20, 2015, but she appealed her case.

Dalquez, a native of General Santos City, was acquitted on June 19, 2017 and declared innocent without having to pay diyyah or blood money. She was released from prison on Thursday.  /kga

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