Noli says pardon for 2 OFWs still possible
By MARIA ALETA O. NIEVA
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Vice-President Noli de Castro on Friday said Philippine embassy officials in Kuwait are still working on getting a pardon for two overseas Filipino workers--May Vecina and Marilou Ranario--even if they have already been saved from the death row.
“At least, buhay yung tao. May possibility pa na mabigyan ng pardon. Dadagdagan natin ang ating dasal,” De Castro said.
On Thursday, the DFA announced that the Emir of Kuwait has signed the Amiri decree commuting the death sentences of the two OFWs last July 8.
Vecina was convicted for the death of the son of her employer in January 2007, while Ranario was sentenced to death for killing her Kuwaiti employer in 2005.
After speaking at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) anniversary Friday, De Castro told reporters that the government wants to shorten Vecina and Ranario’s jail term.
“Sabi ko, may possibility ba na iyan ay bumaba pa? Posible kasi yung kay Vecina, yung mother hindi pumirma sa tanazul [letter of forgiveness], yung father lamang. So kung pumirma siya at kung makukumbinsi pa natin, yan ang nilalakad ng mga taga-foreign affairs sa Kuwait, ang embahada natin doon, para mapababa pa,” De Castro said.
“Dalawa yung pinirmahan ng Emir. Yung kay Ranario, noon pa yun, sinabay lang ng Emir. Ngayon, from death, naging life na lamang. Ngayon, tinanong ko, ano ba yang life na yan? 25 years,” De Castro said.
The vice-president thanked the Emir of Kuwait and the efforts exerted by the Philippine embassy and other officials who tirelessly followed-up the case of the two OFWs
“Ang ating pamahalaan, lahat tayo from the president, kay Secretary Alberto Romulo hanggang doon sa embassy natin sa Kuwait, gumalaw naman talaga sila,” De Castro added.
He defended the DFA from critics and said that work is being done by the department to help and assist Filipinos abroad.
“Kaya minsan, kung may bumabatikos sa kanila, unfair naman. Kaya ako ang tagapagtanggol nila dahil nakita ko naman kung paano sila magtrabaho. Dahil kahit medyo kapos ang resources, tinatrabaho talaga nila para mailigtas natin ang mga kababayan natin. Pero we have to understand na iba naman ang batas nila doon. At may pagkakasala din ang ating kababayan,” he said.
Past efforts
Last year, President Arroyo herself traveled to Kuwait to seek the Emir's help in sparing the lives of Vecina and Ranario.
Earlier this year, De Castro visited Kuwait and handed the Emir a second letter from Mrs. Arroyo requesting his forgiveness for Vecina and the commutation of her death sentence.
De Castro stressed that the tanazul or letter of forgiveness played an important role in commuting the death sentences of Ranario and Vecina.
“Yun ang number one, kung wala yung forgiveness ng family especially ng parents, where in this case, yung father lamang. Mukhang magkahiwalay yung mag asawa. So yung mother, hindi siya nagbigay ng tanazul, but yung father nagbigay. Pero mas mataas yata pag father. Yun ang pinagbatayan ng Emir. Without that, hindi rin pipirma yung Emir,” he said.
Money matters
Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Romulo clarified that the issue of blood money is a private matter between the two parties.
“Of course, we urge them to comply with the rules and culture of blood money. Sila ang naguusap doon,” Romulo said.
Furthermore, Romulo also mentioned the efforts of Filipinos abroad who offered a helping hand to the distressed OFWs.
“We are urging them, but you know, there are many civic-spirited citizens who participated. You will never know how generous our people are when it comes to times of distress,” Romulo said.
The DFA continues to monitor 54 OFW death penalty cases. Of this number, 21 cases were commuted to lesser penalties. Eight of the 21 OFWs were repatriated to the Philippines.
The DFA also provided assistance in securing the safe release of OFWs who were abducted in Nigeria.
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Vice-President Noli de Castro on Friday said Philippine embassy officials in Kuwait are still working on getting a pardon for two overseas Filipino workers--May Vecina and Marilou Ranario--even if they have already been saved from the death row.
“At least, buhay yung tao. May possibility pa na mabigyan ng pardon. Dadagdagan natin ang ating dasal,” De Castro said.
On Thursday, the DFA announced that the Emir of Kuwait has signed the Amiri decree commuting the death sentences of the two OFWs last July 8.
Vecina was convicted for the death of the son of her employer in January 2007, while Ranario was sentenced to death for killing her Kuwaiti employer in 2005.
After speaking at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) anniversary Friday, De Castro told reporters that the government wants to shorten Vecina and Ranario’s jail term.
“Sabi ko, may possibility ba na iyan ay bumaba pa? Posible kasi yung kay Vecina, yung mother hindi pumirma sa tanazul [letter of forgiveness], yung father lamang. So kung pumirma siya at kung makukumbinsi pa natin, yan ang nilalakad ng mga taga-foreign affairs sa Kuwait, ang embahada natin doon, para mapababa pa,” De Castro said.
“Dalawa yung pinirmahan ng Emir. Yung kay Ranario, noon pa yun, sinabay lang ng Emir. Ngayon, from death, naging life na lamang. Ngayon, tinanong ko, ano ba yang life na yan? 25 years,” De Castro said.
The vice-president thanked the Emir of Kuwait and the efforts exerted by the Philippine embassy and other officials who tirelessly followed-up the case of the two OFWs
“Ang ating pamahalaan, lahat tayo from the president, kay Secretary Alberto Romulo hanggang doon sa embassy natin sa Kuwait, gumalaw naman talaga sila,” De Castro added.
He defended the DFA from critics and said that work is being done by the department to help and assist Filipinos abroad.
“Kaya minsan, kung may bumabatikos sa kanila, unfair naman. Kaya ako ang tagapagtanggol nila dahil nakita ko naman kung paano sila magtrabaho. Dahil kahit medyo kapos ang resources, tinatrabaho talaga nila para mailigtas natin ang mga kababayan natin. Pero we have to understand na iba naman ang batas nila doon. At may pagkakasala din ang ating kababayan,” he said.
Past efforts
Last year, President Arroyo herself traveled to Kuwait to seek the Emir's help in sparing the lives of Vecina and Ranario.
Earlier this year, De Castro visited Kuwait and handed the Emir a second letter from Mrs. Arroyo requesting his forgiveness for Vecina and the commutation of her death sentence.
De Castro stressed that the tanazul or letter of forgiveness played an important role in commuting the death sentences of Ranario and Vecina.
“Yun ang number one, kung wala yung forgiveness ng family especially ng parents, where in this case, yung father lamang. Mukhang magkahiwalay yung mag asawa. So yung mother, hindi siya nagbigay ng tanazul, but yung father nagbigay. Pero mas mataas yata pag father. Yun ang pinagbatayan ng Emir. Without that, hindi rin pipirma yung Emir,” he said.
Money matters
Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Romulo clarified that the issue of blood money is a private matter between the two parties.
“Of course, we urge them to comply with the rules and culture of blood money. Sila ang naguusap doon,” Romulo said.
Furthermore, Romulo also mentioned the efforts of Filipinos abroad who offered a helping hand to the distressed OFWs.
“We are urging them, but you know, there are many civic-spirited citizens who participated. You will never know how generous our people are when it comes to times of distress,” Romulo said.
The DFA continues to monitor 54 OFW death penalty cases. Of this number, 21 cases were commuted to lesser penalties. Eight of the 21 OFWs were repatriated to the Philippines.
The DFA also provided assistance in securing the safe release of OFWs who were abducted in Nigeria.
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