Gov't did everything to save Kapampangan OFW — Palace

CLARK FREEPORT -- Malacanang said the government has exhausted all means to save Joselito Zapanta, a Kapampangan overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia who was executed last Tuesday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. issued the statement after Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Partylist Representative Roy Seneres, Sr. blamed President Aquino for the death of Zapanta saying the latter should have asked the king of Saudi Arabia for clemency.

Coloma said that all forms of diplomatic and legal assistance were extended to Zapanta since he was convicted of murder with robbery by a Riyadh court on April 10, 2010.

Zapanta, a native of Bacolor town, Pampanga was executed after the family of his victim refused to execute an affidavit of forgiveness in exchange of blood money.

According to Coloma, the government even assisted Zapanta’s relatives so they could visit him at the Malaz Prison in November 2012, March 2013 and from November 28 to December 2, 2015.

“There is no basis to the allegations that Mr. Zapanta was not given enough assistance,” Coloma said.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay earlier expressed sympathies to Zapanta’s family.

"I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family of Joselito Zapanta who was executed today for killing a Sudanese national in 2009," Binay said.

"The Office of the Vice President (OVP) worked closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and exhausted all diplomatic and legal efforts in order to save the life of Mr. Zapanta, including a personal written appeal to the King of of Saudi Arabia," he added.

Binay in 2012 wrote a personal letter to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud seeking for a deferment of Zapanta’s death sentence.

He also said the OVP and DFA provided Zapanta with all the necessary assistance to ensure that his legal rights were observed throughout the whole judicial process.

According to Binay, the Philippine government was also in constant talks with the family of his victim and was able to secure several extensions for the payment of blood money.

"We likewise issued appeals for help in raising the blood money demanded by the family of his victim, in keeping with Saudi laws. Despite our best efforts- and the kindness and generosity of private individuals, the local government of Pampanga and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)- we were unable to raise the SAR 4 million demanded by the family," he added.

After initially demanding SAR 5 million for the execution of an affidavit of forgiveness and prevent the imposition of the death penalty, the victim's family agreed to lower the amount to SAR 4 million.

Out of the SAR 4 million or about P45 million blood money set by the victim's heirs, Zapanta's family was only able to raise SAR 1.8 million (P23 million).

Binay for his part said he will work towards giving better protection and assistance to OFWs.

"Rest assured that a Binay administration will give priority to providing jobs for Filipinos here at home so that overseas employment becomes a matter of choice and not necessity," he said.

"We shall also work for greater government protection and effective assistance for our fellow Filipinos abroad," Binay said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier stated that Zapanta’s remains would not be repatriated because it was immediately buried after the execution.

However, Zapanta’s relatives appealed to President Aquino to talk to the Saudi Arabian king to that his body will be flown home.

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