PHL seeks extension of OFW's March 12 deadline to pay blood money

On the eve of a March 12 deadline to pay blood money for overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine government is exerting all efforts to convince the host government to at least extend the deadline.

In a text message to reporters, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III has written King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud “requesting for the deferment of Mr. Zapanta's sentence to give the latter's family more time to raise the blood money.”

Valte said they have been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the letter, dated March 5, 2013, has already been sent to Saudi Arabia.

Zapanta has been accused of killing a Sudanese in 2009.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said Philippine embassy officials in Jeddah have also made appeals to Saudi authorities and to the family of Zapanta's victim for an extension.

“Sa nakaraang mga buwan, walang tigil ang ating embahada sa paghahanap ng mga paraan upang muling ma-extend ang deadline sa pagbayad ng blood money at kung maaari ay muling maibaba ang halagang hinihingi,” Binay said.

He said they are still undertaking measures, including some that he described as sensitive.

Last November, Zapanta was given a four-month reprieve to raise the blood money, even as his victim's family agreed to reduce the amount from P55 million to P44 million.

Binay said he had been asking the public to help raise funds for Zapanta in recent months.

For now, Binay asked the public for prayers for Zapanta, whose relatives left for Saudi Arabia last Saturday.

“Hinihiling nila na sana ay mag-alay ng dasal ang ating mga kababayan para kay Joselito. Katulad nila, umaasa pa rin ako na mabibigyang lunas ang kanyang kalagayan,” he said. — KBK, GMA News

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