Kin of Pinoy sentenced to death in Qatar sought Palace’s help as early as 2012
(Updated 10:49 a.m., May 28) The family of the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) facing death penalty in Qatar for espionage and economic sabotage had sought the help of the government as early as 2012, a close friend of the OFW revealed.
In an exclusive interview aired on 24 Oras on Tuesday, the friend showed a copy of the letter that the three children of the embattled OFW had sent to President Benigno Aquino III dated June 15, 2012.
“We will be indebted to you and deeply grateful for any action to explore diplomatic ties with the Qatar Government that can facilitate a favorable outcome regarding this matter,” the letter reads.
The friend said the family of the OFW did not receive any reply from the Palace for the past two years. “24 Oras” reported that Malacañang had denied receiving any letter from the family of the OFW.
In a text message to GMA News Online on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said there is no record of the letter according to the Malacañang Records Office and President Benigno Aquino III's private office.
The friend of the OFW, who refused to be identified, further said that the family also sought the help of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, in 2011, but got very little assistance from him and his office.
“Wala rin po, wala pong naging development,” the friend said.
Binay, meanwhile, said his office did everything it could to help the OFW.
“Nakausap namin [family of OFW] at ang sabi namin, 'Sige ho at gagawa kami ng paraan.' Ang ating embassy ay hindi naman nagpabaya. Ginawa naman ang lahat,” Binay said.
In a handwritten signed affidavit that he submitted to the Philippine Embassy in Qatar several months before he was arrested in March 2010 together with eight other Filipinos, the OFW related his predicament.
The OFW told the Philippine Embassy that he was being investigated by the petroleum company where he is working for allegedly receiving gifts and commissions, an allegation that he denied.
“I have denied taking commissions and so on and also denied taking valuable gifts from vendors,” the OFW said in his affidavit.
Last April 30, the Qatari court ruled on the case. The OFW was sentenced to death while two other OFWs working as technicians in a military base were meted with life imprisonment. The six other Filipinos arrested were cleared from the case and were repatriated to the Philippines.
However, the friend of the OFW revealed that the head of the company where the OFW used to work was also being investigated before for alleged corruption. He said the boss of the OFW is from a royal family in Qatar.
“Narinig ko sabi ng boss niya sa kanya, 'You take the blame, be the sacrificial lamb, and we will take care of you and your family,” the friend said.
The friend was among the six OFWs who were also arrested but were later cleared by the Qatari court from the same cases.
The friend said that during their detention, they were tortured by the arresting officers.
“Sinisipa kami, pinagsasampal. Tapos pinaglaruan nila ako. They want you to act like a kangaroo, act like a dog,” he recounted. — Elizabeth Marcelo and Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/KG, GMA News
In an exclusive interview aired on 24 Oras on Tuesday, the friend showed a copy of the letter that the three children of the embattled OFW had sent to President Benigno Aquino III dated June 15, 2012.
“We will be indebted to you and deeply grateful for any action to explore diplomatic ties with the Qatar Government that can facilitate a favorable outcome regarding this matter,” the letter reads.
The friend said the family of the OFW did not receive any reply from the Palace for the past two years. “24 Oras” reported that Malacañang had denied receiving any letter from the family of the OFW.
In a text message to GMA News Online on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said there is no record of the letter according to the Malacañang Records Office and President Benigno Aquino III's private office.
The friend of the OFW, who refused to be identified, further said that the family also sought the help of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, in 2011, but got very little assistance from him and his office.
“Wala rin po, wala pong naging development,” the friend said.
Binay, meanwhile, said his office did everything it could to help the OFW.
“Nakausap namin [family of OFW] at ang sabi namin, 'Sige ho at gagawa kami ng paraan.' Ang ating embassy ay hindi naman nagpabaya. Ginawa naman ang lahat,” Binay said.
In a handwritten signed affidavit that he submitted to the Philippine Embassy in Qatar several months before he was arrested in March 2010 together with eight other Filipinos, the OFW related his predicament.
The OFW told the Philippine Embassy that he was being investigated by the petroleum company where he is working for allegedly receiving gifts and commissions, an allegation that he denied.
“I have denied taking commissions and so on and also denied taking valuable gifts from vendors,” the OFW said in his affidavit.
Last April 30, the Qatari court ruled on the case. The OFW was sentenced to death while two other OFWs working as technicians in a military base were meted with life imprisonment. The six other Filipinos arrested were cleared from the case and were repatriated to the Philippines.
However, the friend of the OFW revealed that the head of the company where the OFW used to work was also being investigated before for alleged corruption. He said the boss of the OFW is from a royal family in Qatar.
“Narinig ko sabi ng boss niya sa kanya, 'You take the blame, be the sacrificial lamb, and we will take care of you and your family,” the friend said.
The friend was among the six OFWs who were also arrested but were later cleared by the Qatari court from the same cases.
The friend said that during their detention, they were tortured by the arresting officers.
“Sinisipa kami, pinagsasampal. Tapos pinaglaruan nila ako. They want you to act like a kangaroo, act like a dog,” he recounted. — Elizabeth Marcelo and Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/KG, GMA News
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