Report: Hopes rise for OFW on Saudi death row

Hope remains alive for an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia, who was sentenced to death in 2000 for killing an Arab national, after the victim's father showed willingness to settle the case. A report on Arab News online Monday said a Philippine congressional delegation that visited Saudi Arabia to get a firsthand look at OFWs’ problems there learned of the development over the weekend. "The father of [convicted OFW Rodelio 'Dondon'] Lanuza's victim, the members of the mission were informed, is now more open to talking about a settlement. Lanuza claims that he killed the victim in self-defense," according to Arab News, citing Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello, the delegation leader. Bello, who chairs the House of Representatives' Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, did not elaborate. With Bello were Coop-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Cresente Paez, DIWA Party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, and Compostela Valley Rep. Ma. Carmen Zamora-Apsay Under Shariah law — the sacred law of Islam — Lanuza can escape death penalty and be released if forgiven by the closest kin of the victim in exchange for blood money. The Arab News report said two members of Bello's mission met with the head of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee to intercede on Lanuza’s behalf. However, the group was not given permission to visit Lanuza as well as other detained Filipinos in the kingdom’s death row. ‘Virtual slavery’ of mostly women In the same report, Bello lamented on the plight of many OFWs in Saudi Arabia – most of them women – that can be described as "virtual slavery." “The testimonies of the women in the shelters revealed in many cases a situation of virtual slavery. A working day of 18 to 22 hours, constant threat of sexual abuse from employers the women called ‘maniacs,’ and beatings, sometimes with the use of hot irons, by the wives of employers," Bello said. The mission visited Philippine government-operated shelters for distressed migrant workers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Alkhobar, and held talks with consulate and embassy officials, and members of worker advocacy groups. Most of the women in the shelters are victims of violence, including sexual abuse, Bello said. “The trip also revealed collusion between unscrupulous recruitment agencies in Manila and their counterparts in Saudi Arabia that result in household workers being paid significantly less than they agreed to before leaving the Philippines," Bello said. In contract substitution, overseas-bound workers are told they will be paid the Philippine-government mandated minimum wage of SR1,500 (about P17,600) a month. The employment contract is then signed for workers to be issued an exit clearance. Upon arrival in the Kingdom, however, the original contract signed in the Philippines is replaced with a new contract with lower wages. Other equally important concerns migrant groups raised were issues of repatriation, Pag-IBIG housing fund, mandatory insurance program, and situation of Filipinos in jails and detention centers. “We gained lots of information and important insights during this visit. This is indeed the dark place for so many of our kababayans there," Bello said in the report. — With Jerrie Abella/VS, GMANews.TV