Gov't banking on victim's family to save OFW on Kuwait death row

The ball is now in the court of the victim's family to save Filipino worker Elpidio Lano from execution in Kuwait, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

Lano was sentenced to death for killing Nilo Macaranas, his fellow OFW, in June 2014 reportedly over jealousy.

In a statement, Bello said he has already talked with Macaranas' widow regarding the offer of blood money and to ask her to forgive Lano, which could save the OFW from the death sentence.

"I have already talked with Mrs. Macaranas. I told her that maybe, she can find it in her heart to forgive Lano," Bello said. "It's now up to her and their family to decide kung mapapatawad nila si Lano and accept the offer of blood money."

"I'm still hoping for the best for Lano," Bello, who was in Kuwait late last month added. "Hopefully, we can get at least a commutation of his death sentence, or better yet, his freedom."

The Kuwait Court of First Instance has yet to set Lano's execution.

Lano's case resurfaced following the hanging last month of Jakatia Pawa, a Filipina household service worker executed for the killing of her employer's 22-year old daughter in 2007.

Pawa, who was buried in Kuwait, was sentenced for stabbing the victim several times with a kitchen knife while asleep. She professed innocence until the time of her death.

The schedule of her execution was so abrupt that the government and her family were notified only a day before she was hanged on January 25.

Despite appeals, the victim's family reportedly refused to forgive Pawa. —KBK, GMA News