Kuwaiti ruler commutes OFW May Vecina's death sentence

(Updated 11:55 p.m.) MANILA, Philippine - Another Filipino domestic helper who was convicted of murder in Kuwait has been spared from death row. Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah last July 8 signed a decree commuting May Vecina's death sentence to life imprisonment, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a press statement on Thursday. DFA spokesperson Claro Cristobal confirmed the report in an interview with GMANews.TV and said the Philippine government appreciated the Kuwaiti ruler's gesture of good will. Cristobal credited the Philippine government for its diplomatic efforts that helped in saving Vecina's life. She was sentenced to death by hanging. "This cannot be done without the efforts of the DFA and the President (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) as well as the Vice President (Noli de Castro) who even carried (Arroyo's) letter to the emir in person," Cristobal said. Kuwaiti courts found Vecina guilty of killing her employer's seven-year-old son Salem Sulaiman Al-Otaib on January 6, 2007. She was also alleged of attempting to kill the victim's 13-year-old brother Abdulla by slitting the boy's throat, and his 17-year-old sister Hajer by stabbing her. At her trial, Vecina claimed that she suffered physical and mental abuse from her employer, which led her to lose her mind. But the Kuwaiti Supreme Court upheld Vecina's death penalty last May, prompting President Arroyo to send De Castro and other officials to Kuwait to plead again with the Kuwaiti ruler. Last December, Kuwait's Emir saved the life of Filipino worker Marilou Ranario from death row after President Arroyo visited the oil-rich country in 2007. Ranario was convicted for murdering her female employer in 2005. Vecina, in a rare interview earlier this month, told GMA News that she was praying for a secure future for her children, while she was in Kuwait. "I hope my kids will be given the chance to a good education and a better life," she said in Filipino. Not Arroyo's trophy Meanwhile, an alliance of OFWs warned President Arroyo against using the commutation of May Vecina's death sentence as a "trophy" in her July 28 State of the Nation Address (SONA). Gary Martinez, Migrante International spokesperson, told GMANews.TV that Mrs Arroyo should not be contented with Vecina's commutation because there are 33 more OFWs in the Middle East who are in death row. "We welcome this good news. At least Vecina's family can breathe a sigh of relief after her death sentence has been commuted. However, President Arroyo should not use Vecina's commutation as a trophy in her upcoming SONA," said Martinez. He said Vecina's commutation should not be considered as a "brownie point" for Mrs Arroyo because it was the migrant groups who campaigned for Vecina's freedom. "The government should be more serious and systematic in helping all Filipino workers who are facing death row," he added. According to Martinez, many Filipinos in the Middle East do not have lawyers to defend them during court proceedings. Thankful for the commutation The sister of Marilou Ranario was overjoyed upon learning from GMANews.TV that the life of another Filipina in the said oil-rich country was spared by Kuwait's emir. Wilfreda, 25, was thankful that May Vecina's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment last week. "I'm so happy to hear about it. Thank God May is out of harm's way," Wilfreda told GMANews.TV in a phone interview Thursday evening. After her sister's death sentence was commuted, Wilfreda joined Migrante International, an alliance of OFWs, in urging the government to save Vecina's life. "My family suffered after my sister was convicted in Kuwait but we were very happy when she was saved from death row. I would advice May's family to count on God and the Filipino people's help, like what we did when we were in the same situation," Wilfreda said. Wilfreda said Marilou advised her on the phone last month not to seek employment abroad because she feared that Wilfreda might suffer the fate of OFWs being exploited by their employers. "I know how May's family feels. I also miss my sister very much. My sister is my best friend, she took care of me while we were living in Tubod, Surigao del Norte. I keep on praying that I'll see her again soon," she said. - GMANews.TV