OFW on Saudi death row beaten up in jail, sister says

The family of the overseas Filipino worker recently sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia has reported he was beaten up by his inmates inside a Riyadh jail. In an interview with GMANews.TV, Rosemay Zapanta said her brother Joselito Zapanta was able to call their aunt early this week to seek help in letting Philippine authorities know he was being beaten up by his inmates. Joselito was sentenced to death by the Saudi Court of First Instance on April 13 last year for allegedly stealing from and killing his Sudanese landlord. However, the Filipino worker pleaded self-defense, saying he accidentally killed his landlord when the latter beat him up over a dispute on rental dues. “Nagsumbong siya sa tita namin na madalas siyang binubugbog doon, pinagtutulungan ng mga kasama niya (He told our aunt that he was beaten up more than once, that his fellow inmates are ganging up on him)," Rosamary said in a phone interview. She said Joselito was unable to relay more information on when he was beaten up or the severity of his condition, but said he is unable to eat his food properly. “Patago lang kasi siyang tumatawag, saka nag-aalala siya sa nanay namin na mahina ang puso at baka maapektuhan (He can only call us secretly, and he also fears for our mother’s health who may be affected by the bad news)," she said. She added they have already informed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of Joselito’s condition. Case now on appeal, DFA says In a separate interview, Vice Consul Roussel Reyes of the Philippine Consulate General in Riyadh said they have not received information about the alleged beating. “We are not aware of that report. We regularly visit him and he also calls us from time to time. But I will have that report verified," Reyes told GMANews.TV. Meanwhile, Reyes refused to disclose updates on Joselito’s appeal before the Appellate Court, citing the case’s “sensitivity." “Suffice it to say that we are doing what needs to be done to assist Mr. Zapanta," Reyes explained. In a text message, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. said the department has already provided Joselito a lawyer to defend his appeal. “His case is now on appeal. It was our lawyer who filed the appeal," Conejos said but declined to elaborate. 28 OFWs on death row in Middle East As this developed, a migrants’ rights group renewed calls on the Philippine government to make sure that Joselito gets proper legal representation, and that his well-being inside the Riyadh jail is ensured. Earlier, Migrante accused the DFA of neglecting Joselito’s case by failing to enlist a lawyer to defend him. “The Philippine officer in charge of his case should conduct jail visits as often as possible to closely watch on the conditions of Zapanta and other jailed OFWs. It should likewise investigate and discuss with jail authorities the alleged beating of Zapanta," said Migrante-Middle East coordinator John Leonard Monterona in another interview. He likewise urged the government to make sure to hire a lawyer that is an expert in Sharia, or Islamic law, and to regularly update the family on the status of Joselito’s case. Joselito, a 31-year old father of two and a native of Mexico town in Pampanga, was deployed in Riyadh in October 2008 as a tile setter. He ran away from his original employer, however, claiming he was not being paid his salary. He eventually found a new job and rented a room under the Sudanese national. He has been in Malaz Central Jail in Riyadh since June last year. Based on Migrante’s records, there are 28 OFWs who are on death row in the Middle East alone. In January this year, the Kuwaiti Court of Cassation also upheld the death sentence on Jakatia Pawa, a Filipina housemaid who pleaded innocent to the charge of killing her employer’s daughter. In China meanwhile, as of January this year, 66 Filipinos are on death row for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the People’s Republic. Of these, 53 are women. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV