Vice President Jejomar Binay. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay renewed his call on Thursday for contributions to save the life of overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta who faces execution in Saudi Arabia this month.
Citing a report from Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago, Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said Zapanta’s family was racing against time to come up with the blood money to be paid to the family of the man Zapanta killed in 2009.
The family of Sudanese Saleh Imam Ibrahim has demanded 4 million Saudi riyals in blood money, which the Philippine government has been negotiating to bring down to 2 million Saudi riyals (around P23 million).
Of that amount, the Philippine government has raised P5.5 million.
Zapanta was sentenced to death for killing Ibrahim, his landlord, during an argument over the rent in 2009. The Filipino tile fitter hit Ibrahim repeatedly with a hammer and ran off with his mobile phone.
Binay said Zapanta’s family has been working to raise the 1.48 million Saudi riyals (P17.5 million) needed to complete the lower amount it has been hoping the family of Ibrahim would accept.
“Once again, I ask everyone to help raise funds for Joselito. Let us start this year by helping save the life of a fellow Filipino and bring joy to his family,” Binay said in a statement.
The blood money was due on Nov. 12, 2012, but this was extended to March 12, 2013, and was moved again to Nov. 3, 2013, upon appeal by the Philippine government.
Zapanta is due to be executed this month, following the lapse two months ago of the extended deadline.
Payment of the blood money would pave the way for a commutation of his death sentence through the Ibrahim family’s issuance of a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness.
Last year, the Philippine government succeeded in bringing home OFW Rodelio Lanuza, who was jailed for 13 years for the killing in self defense of a Saudi national.
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz paid 2.3 million Saudi riyals (P25 million) of the 3 million Saudi riyals (P32 million) in blood money for Lanuza’s release and eventual homecoming in September.
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