Arroyo, Kuwaiti PM discuss fate of 2 OFWs on death row

President Arroyo on Friday took the opportunity to discuss with Kuwait's prime minister the possible commutation of sentences of two Filipino workers on death row in the emirate.

Esteban Conejos Jr., foreign affairs undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, confirmed that the President had met with Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Conejos said Mrs. Arroyo first expressed her gratitude to the prime minister for the commutation earlier this year of the death sentences of OFWs Mae Vecina and Marilou Ranario.

Mrs. Arroyo then mentioned the cases of Bienvenido Espino and Jakatia Pawa who were convicted in April and May this year.

Espino was convicted for killing a fellow Filipino. Pawa was sentenced to death for killing the 22-year-old daughter of her employer.

According to Conejos, the prime minister said that they should first wait for the result of the Kuwaiti legal process before talking about the commutation. The cases are both on appeal before the Kuwaiti appellate court.

Kuwait’s prime minister arrived in Manila Thursday to witness the signing of agreements on the energy cooperation agreement which includes joint oil exploration, the agreement on health which will enhance the sharing of expertise in health-related services and an agreement that aims to increase tourist exchanges between the two countries and encourage tourism-related investments. With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

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