RP urges Kuwaiti Emir to commute OFW death sentence

MANILA, Philippines – The government has reiterated its appeal to the Emir of Kuwait to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) May Vecina after the Kuwait’s Court of Cassation (Supreme Court) made its decision final and executory last April 1.

The Filipina worker was sentenced to die by hanging for slitting the throat of the son of her employer with a kitchen knife and attempting to kill the child’s brother and sister in January 2007.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said only Emir Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah could save the life of Vecina.

Conejos said Vice President Noli de Castro and the DFA raised last month the case of Vecina to the Emir and conveyed the concern of President Arroyo about the conviction of the Filipina worker.

In her letter, the President appealed to Sheik Al-Sabah to save Vecina’s life “in the spirit of mercy and compassion, and with full respect for the laws of Kuwait.”

The President’s appeal was personally brought to the Emir’s attention during her visit to Kuwait last December.

It was the third time the President had written to the Emir to request clemency for Vecina.

The Emir, who has two to three months to act on the appeal, said he would look into the case “when it (the request) gets to him.”

Vecina’s lawyer, Faisal al-Matar, said Vecina was provoked to kill her ward after her employer’s wife embarrassed her and shouted invectives at her in front of other people.

Meanwhile, Conejos said the cases of other OFWs also sentenced to death are still pending with the Court of Appeals of Kuwait.

“The case of Vecina is final and executory. That is why we focused on her, while the cases of Jakatia Mandon Pawa and Bienvenido de Vera Espino will go to the SC and we have not completed the appellate court procedure,” Conejos said.

Kuwait’s criminal court had sentenced to death Jakatia, 31, of Zamboanga del Norte, for stabbing to death her employer’s 21-year-old daughter on May 14, 2007.

The Kuwaiti court also sentenced Espino to death last month for stabbing to death a compatriot last year.

The Criminal Circuit Court (Trial Court) found last May 11 Espino guilty of premeditated murder of a Filipina OFW.

The Philippine Embassy is closely monitoring and assisting other cases of OFWs in Kuwait.

De Castro, who is also the presidential adviser on OFWs, was granted 10 minutes to discuss with the highest Kuwaiti official relevant issues that included the fate of Vecina.

The Vice President led the Philippine mission in bringing the letter of condolences from the Philippine government to the family of the Emir whose father died last month. 

De Castro thanked the Emir for hosting the 120,000 OFWs presently staying in Kuwait.

He expressed gratitude to the Emir, in behalf of the government, for sparing the life of Marilou Ranario, another OFW who faced the death sentence earlier.

Aside from OFWs’ concerns, De Castro was also able to discuss trade and investment with the Emir, specifically on Kuwaiti business ventures at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

The Kuwaiti leader also vowed to increase his country’s investments in Asia, particularly in the Philippines. – Pia Lee-Brago