PH to work for release of OFW on death row in KSA

The government will work for the release of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who killed a fellow Filipino in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2008 but was forgiven by the victim’s family.

Vice President Jejomar Binay instructed Enrico Endaya, Executive Director of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to speed up the transmittal of the necessary documents to the Saudi courts to facilitate Jonard Langamin’s release.

This week, Binay, who is also Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, met with the victim Robertson Mendoza’s father, Bert, and the mother of accused, Editha, at the Coconut Palace to facilitate a reconciliation, according to a press release from the Office of the Vice President.

In Saudi Arabia law, the private aspect of the case is more important than the public aspect. The private aspect involves the next of kin of the victim granting its forgiveness to the family of the accused, while the public aspect deals with the state punishing the accused for the crime committed.

If the next of kin grants its forgiveness, the state will no longer pursue the public aspect.

Binay guaranteed Editha that her son would be given full legal support by the Philippine government.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyo Vice President at natulungan niyo po kaming mailigtas ang buhay ng anak ko (Thank you very much, Vice President, fro helping us save my son’s life),” the tearful mother said.

The Vice President likewise guaranteed Bert that the Mendoza family would get all benefits and assistance his son Robertson was entitled to.

In an interview with television reporters, Bert said he had prayed, asking his son to give him a sign on what he should do. He knows the agony of losing a child and is glad that he was able to forgive Langamin before it was too late.

According to the DFA, Langamin stabbed to death fellow crew member Mendoza because the victim was preventing the former from singing.

The case is now pending before the Damman Higher Court.

Also present in the meeting were Administrator Carmelita S Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Susan Ople, President of the Blas F Ople Policy Center, who helped Langamin’s family in the mediation.

Image from Microsoft Office website.