Jailed OFWs' wives seek government help

MANILA, Philippines - The wives of three overseas Filipino workers, jailed in Saudi Arabia for murdering three fellow Filipinos, asked the Aquino administration to facilitate the release of their husbands since the victims’ families have been given blood money.

Edison Gonzales, his brother Roland and Eduardo Arcilla questioned why their case was scheduled for retrial by the Saudi court despite the blood money paid to their victim’s families, who have issued a tanazul (affidavit of forgiveness).

They were sentenced to death in July 2007 after they were found guilty of killing Dante Rivero and his two friends, Reno Lumbang and Jeremias Bucod, in April 2006.

In 2009, blood money was given to the families of the slain victims through the intercession of Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto. The blood money was given by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office through the Department of Foreign Affairs and was handed over directly to the victims’ families.

The Gonzaleses and Arcilla said they are suffering from various illnesses and are seeking the speedy resolution of the case so they could come home for treatment.

Edison’s wife, Rosanna, said Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedine Tago could not assure them their husbands would not get the death sentence in the retrial.