Exec denies DFA sat on case of jailed OFW in KSA

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) denied that the agency sat on the case of an overseas Filipino worker who is jailed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the death of another OFW.

Crescente Relacion, DFA executive director, said the department had extended all the necessary assistance to Pedro “Jamil" Mabanto who has been staying in Al Mazaz Jail in Riyadh since 2005 for the killing of Benjamin Cruz.

“We provided him with a lawyer who was paid for using the legal assistance fund. Tinututukan ‘yan ng lawyer niya (His lawyer had focused on the case)," said Relacion.

The DFA official made the statement after e-mails circulated that Philippine embassy and DFA officials neglected Mabanto’s plea for help in his murder case.

In an e-mail to GMANews.TV, Joseph Henry Espiritu of OFW-SOS and Patnubay.com claimed that DFA and embassy officials did not perform their jobs well. Patnubay.com is a site for OFWs in Saudi Arabia.

Philippine officials there have failed to follow-up the case in court and didn’t secure a wakalah (special power of attorney) from either the Mabanto or the Cruz family, according to Espiritu.

“They also failed to mediate or negotiate for the early resolution of this case. It was only in May 23, 2008 that the DFA called both the Mabanto and the Cruz family for negotiation and mediation," he added.

Cruz reportedly died in June 2005 after a heated argument with Mabanto.

Reports said Cruz had difficulty breathing during his disagreement with Mabanto. Seeing his condition, Mabanto reportedly left Cruz to seek help and call for an ambulance.

According to Espiritu, Mabanto noticed later that he had blood on his shirt, which he probably got after he hit the frame of a doorknob when he went outside to call for help.

“But the people in the vicinity thought there was a fight between Jamil and Cruz," Espiritu said.

Medical records

Espiritu is asking the DFA and embassy officials why Mabanto was never provided a copy of the medical records proving that Cruz died of a natural cause.

“The medical report is a very important document to prove (Mabanto’s) innocence. Does the lawyer or court have a copy of that document?" said Espiritu.

The siblings of Cruz are asking the Mabanto family to pay them 90,000 Saudi Real, or about P1.14 million as blood money. Aside from paying Cruz’s family, Mabanto was also ordered by the Saudi court to fast for 60 days.

But Espiritu said the blood money “is too much for (Mabanto) to pay."

He lost his income three years ago and his wife and children had to survive through the help of good friends," said Espiritu.

Relacion said the Philippine government could shoulder part of the payment should Mabanto be unable to raise the money himself.

“Once he could comply with that, he would be freed. And if ever he can’t raise the money, the government will try other sources," Relacion said.

Espiritu is disappointed with the response of Philippine officials. “It’s too sad to think that the Philippine Embassy and the DFA always blame the justice system of Saudi Arabia in televisions and print media. In reality, it is the embassy and the DFA’s negligence that caused (OFWs’) sufferings." - MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV

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