Group warns: OFW due for execution in Saudi

MANILA, Philippines - An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) may be executed next week due to the government’s negligence, labor group Migrante International said yesterday.

Joselito Zapanta faces the death penalty if he fails to pay blood money to the family of his victim by Nov. 14, and the government is only now exerting effort to save him, Migrante chair Connie Bragas-Regalado said.

 “This is not just an isolated case. We are now seeing a pattern of negligence and last-minute actions. Heads must roll, and it should not be those of our OFWs,” she said.

Regalado called on the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to divulge all actions taken since Zapanta was arrested and sentenced two years ago. His case is pending before the Supreme Judicial Council for mediation.

Zapanta left for Riyadh in 2007 to work as a tile setter, but his employer did not pay him for six months. He decided to look for another job.

In June 2009, a friend of Zapanta called his family and told them he was in jail for killing his Sudanese landlord, Saleh Imam Ibrahim. The friend said Zapanta was beaten by his landlord because he refused to give the rent for his apartment since it was not yet due.

Regalado said Zapanta’s family went to Migrante after allegedly not getting any response from the DFA.