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OFW being starved in KSA jail, militant group claims


An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sentenced to death in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for killing his Sudanese landlord last April is being starved in prison, a militant migrant-rights advocacy group claimed Saturday. Migrante Middle East coordinator John Monterona said Angelito Zapanta, 30, had not been given his supply of food and water. “His family had called, asking for help, for Joselito is not given any food nor water... that was four days ago," an article posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site, quoting Monterona as saying. Monterona urged the Philippine post’s Assistance to Nationals Unit (ANU) in Riyadh to heed Zapanta family's plea to visit him in jail and help him. “We will highly appreciate if the ANU would provide a report on the condition of OFW Zapanta and other OFWs in various jails in the Kingdom especially those whose sentence is death and those on death row, and immediately inform their respective family in the Philippines hoping that by doing this their anxiety will be lessened," he said. The CBCP article said it was the second time Zapanta had complained about his condition. Last May, he told his relatives he had been beaten by a fellow prisoner. Earlier this month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine government filed a motion for appeal at the Saudi appellate court for Zapanta and for two other cases. But Monterona said he doubts the appeal will prosper as the DFA did not confirm if it had already hired a Shariah lawyer. “The last time that we have spoken with Zapanta, he told us that he was only given two interpreters, instead of lawyers, during his hearing in the lower court. That’s why, although he has strong chances of winning his case, he was sentenced to death because of misrepresentation in court. And we are afraid that this would happen again on his appeal," he said. Monterona urged the Philippine government to ensure that all jailed OFWs all over Middle East are in good condition and their rights and welfare are being upheld. “By conducting regular jail visits, not just on the basis of request, the RP posts would know the conditions of jailed OFWs and that it could attend on jailed OFWs’ simple needs such as toiletries or ask the jail warden to provide food and water to jailed OFWs and treat them humanely," he said. — LBG, GMANews.TV

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