Kin of OFW on Saudi death row demand info on case

The family of the Filipino worker languishing on death row in Saudi Arabia called on the Philippine government Friday to keep them informed about the status of the convicted worker’s appeal. In a press conference organized by the migrants’ rights group Migrante International, the family asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to respect their right to be involved in efforts to save the life of Joselito Zapanta, who was recently sentenced to death for killing his Sudanese landlord in June 2009. Zapanta was meted the death penalty by the Saudi Court of First Instance on April 13, despite pleas of self-defense. (See: OFW gets death in Saudi despite self-defense plea) “Hindi kami papayag na buong-buong ipagkatiwala ang buhay ng aking anak sa ating pamahalaan. Hindi na kami papayag na lagi na lang paghintayin at paasahin sa mga balita na madalang pa sa patak ng ulan kung dumating. Gusto naming matiyak na magagawa ang lahat para mailigtas ang buhay ng aking anak," said Zapanta’s father Jesus, who came all the way from Mexico Pampanga. (We won’t allow my son’s life to be entrusted to the government alone. We won’t allow ourselves to just be made to wait and hope for updates that come very seldom. We want to make sure that everything will be done to save the life of my son.) Jesus likewise scored the DFA for supposedly keeping them in the dark. Until now, he said authorities have not provided them reports to give them an idea on the status of his son’s case. He added it took three weeks before DFA officials informed them that Zapanta’s case has already been brought to the Appellate Court, and only when the family personally visited the DFA office on May 19. “Sobrang tindi ng pangamba namin ng mga panahong ito dahil nabalitaan naming hanggang Mayo 1 lamang pwedeng mag-apela (We were very much worried because we received news that he only had until May 1 to file his appeal)," said Jesus. The DFA earlier said it has assisted Zapanta in filing his appeal on time, but did not mention the specific date. (See: Pinoy sentenced to death in Saudi files appeal) Zapanta, a 30-year-old father of two children and a native of Mexico town in Pampanga, came to Riyadh in October 2008 to work as a tile setter. Six months after, however, he ran away from his employer after failing to receive his monthly salary and took on part-time jobs. In June 2009, Zapanta killed his Sudanese landlord, but said it was only in self-defense as the landlord beat him up for not paying his rent. “We demand the DFA to hold a dialogue with us, Migrante and Joselito’s family, to reveal their plan and accommodate our ideas and efforts. We will not fully entrust the life of Joselito to the current government who has the record of having the most number of OFWs sent to the gallows," said Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez. Based on Migrante’s records, a total of six OFWs were beheaded during President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term, while 28 others are on death row in the Middle East alone. Martinez added that “OFWs with death sentences were executed because they were not provided legal assistance, while their families are kept in the dark and advised to keep mum." Calls and text messages to the mobile phone of DFA undersecretary for migrant workers’ affairs Esteban Conejos went unanswered. “Following the sub judice principle, the DFA is working quietly in contacting the victim's family and will refrain from any public discussions on the case. I urge all private interested parties to exercise circumspection in issuing public pronouncements regarding this case so as not to jeopardize ongoing efforts to save his life," Conejos earlier said in a release. Zapanta’s placement agency, Al-Ahram International Group Services Inc., meanwhile said it is not aware of his case, in an interview with GMANews.TV. “We were not advised by the worker or even by his family," documents processing officer Ruby Donguya said. She added they will nevertheless look for Zapanta’s papers and see whatever help they can extend.—JMA/JV, GMANews.TV