MANILA (Updated) -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that overseas Filipino worker Jakatia Pawa from Zamboanga del Norte was executed by hanging at 10:19 a.m. in Kuwait (3:19 p.m., Manila time).
"We extend our sincere condolences and sympathies to the family of Ms. Pawa," said DFA spokesman Charles Jose in a press briefing Wednesday.
He said the Philippine Government was informed about Pawa's execution only on Tuesday, January 24.
The DFA said earlier that it tried to save the life of Pawa, who was sentenced to death in Kuwait for stabbing her employer's 22-year-old daughter while she was asleep on May 14, 2007. The victim died of 28 stab wounds, reports said.
Jose said the Philippine government did everything to spare Pawa from death row.
"The embassy made the last-ditch efforts, trying to save her. The embassy made representations with the Office of the Ameer, while at the same time, the department called early this morning the Charge d’ Affaires of the Kuwaiti embassy here in Manila," the spokesperson said.
"Up to the last minute, we were hoping that the family will accept the blood money, but the family did not agree," he added.
The Court of Instance in Kuwait sentenced Pawa to death and the guilty verdict was upheld by the Court of Cassation despite Pawa's defense that her fingerprint was absent from the crime scene.
"She was given a trial. She went through the legal process, but unfortunately, we were not able to prove her innocence, that's why she was convicted," said Jose.
He added that Pawa's remains are expected to be buried in Kuwait, as part of the Islamic process.
Under the Muslim tradition, a family member who dies should be buried within 24 hours.
Jose said that Pawa was able to contact her family in the Philippines on Tuesday, January 24.
A news report said Philippine Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Angaris Pawa had confirmed his sister's impending execution, and he appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to help his sister.
"To our beloved President, I hope you could help my sister to save her life. She will be executed tomorrow," he was quoted as saying.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Angaris said: "What happened to her was really painful since she was the one who personally called to inform us about her execution."
Angaris is the elder brother of Jakatia. They are natives of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. Angaris has been assigned at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.
Angaris said her sister, in her last phone call, asked him to take care of her two children, who are under his care.
He said they could have traveled to Kuwait to arrange her burial should they had been informed two or three days before the execution.
“I hope she will be given proper burial because we can no longer bring home her remains following the Muslim rites,” he added.
Malacañang, for its part, extended its condolences and sympathies to the family of the Filipina.
“It is with sadness that we confirm the execution of Jakatia Pawa this afternoon, Philippine Time... We pray for her and her bereaved family,” said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a statement.
Abella said the Philippine government has provided Pawa all the assistance necessary to ensure “all her legal right are respected and all legal procedures are followed.”
“Government likewise exerted all efforts to preserve her life, including diplomatic means and appeal for compassion. Execution, however, could no longer be forestalled under Kuwaiti laws,” he said.
Abella said the Department of Foreign Affairs is now closely coordinating with Pawa’s family and assured that it would continue to provide assistance.
Pawa had been working for five years prior to the incident. She has two children.
She was executed Wednesday (Philippine time) along with six other prisoners, including a royal family member and a woman convicted of killing more than 40 people.
Wednesday's execution was the first death sentences carried out in several years in Kuwait, an oil-rich emirate. (With PNA/AP/SunStar Philippines)