2 Pinays in pregnant woman’s killing depart KSA

(Updated 5:26 pm.) JEDDAH – The two Filipino women who were spared from execution for the killing of a pregnant mother here in 2001 have left for the Philippines. Consul General Ezzedin Tago said Noraisa Talib Mabanding ( a.k.a. Marjanna Sakilan) and Idan Tejano were whisked away to the King Abdul Aziz International Airport immediately after they stepped out of the high-security Briman Prison early Thursday afternoon. They flew home on board a Qatar Airlines Flight QR 646 at 5:45 p.m., accompanied by Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor. They arrived at 2:45 p.m. Friday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. On Wednesday, Tago and Villamor met the two women at the Briman. "They were very happy to know they were leaving soon for the Philippines. They were also very thankful to the President for her persistent intercession to save their lives," Tago said. Tejano and Sakilan, who hail from Batangas and Jolo, respectively, were sentenced by the Jeddah General Shari'ah Court to death by hanging after being found guilty of homicide and robbery for the death of Tejano's pregnant lady employer on May 21, 2001. Records of the case showed that while Tejano’s male employer was away, Tejano brought her friend Sakilan into her employer’s apartment, after which they killed the pregnant victim and fled with her jewelry. The victim’s fetus was also found to have suffered stab wounds. The duo then sought refuge at the shelter for distressed OFWs being maintained by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the consulate. Loot being distributed While complaining to have been a victim of abuse by her employer, Tejano reportedly caught the curiosity of everyone in the shelter when she became very generous and distributed some of her loot to other wards. Police investigators eventually got wind of the whereabouts of the suspects and arrested them from the shelter. In May 2004, the death sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Judicial Council but the execution was suspended due to the minority of the victim's daughter. There were apprehensions in 2005 that the sentence would be carried given the gravity of the crime committed. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sent the first of several appeals to Saudi Arabian King Abdullah on July 23, 2005, requesting the monarch to save the two Filipino women from death by an act of clemency. In 2007, a second letter from President Arroyo to King Abdullah was hand-delivered by DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis to the Director-General of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tago said the breakthrough in the case came when the family of the victim forgave the two in late 2007. King Abdullah and officials of the Saudi Ministry of Interior were instrumental in initiating talks with the victim’s family. In April 2008, the heirs represented by the victim’s husband affirmed in court their forgiveness and declared that they do not object to Tejano and Mabanding’s release from jail. "After the private rights aspect was resolved, the case went back to court for the decision on the public rights," said Consul General Tago. Tago said the Saudi lawyer hired by the DFA did a great job by getting the high court last June to lower the sentence from beheading to 12 years imprisonment and 1,200 lashes. In November, the Appeals (Tameez Court) affirmed the 12-year sentence, but the Embassy and the Consulate made strong representations with the Jeddah Governor, Makkah Region Emir, and the Ministry of Interior for the early release of Tejano and Mabanding since they have already served more than seven years in prison. Appeals President Arroyo sent a total of four appeal letters to the King Abdullah to request clemency and immediate repatriation of the two Filipinas. The President’s most recent appeal was when the she visited Jeddah last September for the opening of the King Abdul Aziz University for Science and Technology (KAUST). On January 13, the king signed the pardon of the two women. "Before leaving, Tejano and Mabanding asked me to thank everyone who helped them. They particularly asked me to thank Consulate staff who over the years visited them, and were there at every stage, especially Ms. Vicky Salian who visits them monthly, and Mr. Montasser Pasandalan, who helped them at every court hearing," Tago recalled. "I personally commend Ms. Salian and Mr. Montasser, and Atty. Ma. Roselie Villareal the Consulate’s legal assistant, for their dedication and hard work," Tago added. Tago extended the sincerest gratitude of Tejano and Mabanding and the Philippine government to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the Jeddah Governor HRH Prince Meshaal bin Majid bin Abdul Aziz, the Makkah Region HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, and all officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah Branch in Jeddah. - RSJ, GMANews.TV