Kuwait emir vows to save Pinay from death

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah yesterday assured Vice President Noli de Castro that he would see what he could do to save overseas Filipino worker May Membrini Vecina from death.

De Castro flew to Kuwait on Thursday to bring the Philippine government’s letter of condolences to the Kuwaiti government on the death of the Father Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Selam Al-Sabah, who died on Tuesday.

The Vice President said he was granted a 10-minute meeting with the Emir.

During the meeting, De Castro appealed to the Emir to help save Vecina.

Kuwait’s Supreme Court upheld last April 1 the death sentence on Vecina for killing her seven-year-old ward and for attempting to kill his elder sister and brother.

“The Emir said he will see what he can do,” De Castro said.

He also thanked Sheik Sabah for saving the life of Filipina maid Marilou Ranario.

Ranario was also sentenced to death but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after President Arroyo made a personal appeal to Sheikh Sabah.

The Emir said during the meeting that Kuwait will increase its investments in Asia, especially in the Philippines.

De Castro thanked Sheikh Sabah for Kuwait’s hosting of about 120,000 OFWs.

He told De Castro that he is very pleased with his 15 Filipino staff.

Kuwait’s criminal court has also sentenced to death a Filipina domestic helper for stabbing to death her employer’s 21-year-old daughter last year.

OFW Jakatia Mandon Pawa, 31, of Zamboanga del Norte, was sentenced to die by hanging for the fatal stabbing.

Pawa stabbed the victim several times with a kitchen knife while she was asleep at dawn on May 14, 2007. The sentence is on appeal.