VP Binay seeks help in raising P44M blood money for Pinoy in Saudi

Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed to Filipinos for donations to raise P44 million in blood money for a Filipino facing execution in Saudi Arabia. Binay, the presidential adviser for Overseas Filipino Worker concerns, said OFW Joselito Zapanta has until March 2013 to raise the amount. “Our generosity especially during this season of sharing will go a long way in saving this young man’s life. As we celebrate the Yuletide season, may we remember the true spirit of Christmas and share the love, hope, goodwill, and peace to everyone,” he said in his Christmas message posted on his Facebook account. Zapanta, 33, went to Saudi Arabia in 2007 to work as a tile setter. He killed his Sudanese landlord after an altercation in 2009. “Joselito’s mother is a 50-year old housewife with her own health problems while his father is a part-time carpenter whose age makes it difficult for him to compete for scarce jobs,” Binay said. Binay noted that a “Good Samaritan” has donated P1 million while 400 OFW families in a Christmas party organized by the Blas F. Ople Center donated P7,900. He said the P1-million donation of the "kindhearted private individual" was immediately deposited in a Saudi bank account opened by the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh for this purpose. Even the Pampanga provincial government has been raising funds for Zapanta, a resident of Bacolor town in Pampanga, he added. The Philippine government has deposited in Saudi Arabia the equivalent of P4 million, the standard allotted for blood money cases that qualify for government assistance. 'Changed man' Binay also said officers of the Philippine Embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs who have met and spoken to Joselito “attest that he is a changed man who has repeatedly sought the forgiveness of the aggrieved family and that of his own.” Earlier, a Saudi court affirmed Zapanta's death sentence by beheading and the family of his victims demanded the equivalent of P50 million to secure their forgiveness. He was scheduled for execution last November but efforts by President Benigno Aquino III, Binay and the Philippine Embassy led to the lowering of the amount to P44 million and a four-month stay of execution. “While we welcome the reduction and the additional time within which to raise the amount, we must admit it is still a substantial amount,” Binay said. Prayers for OFWs Meanwhile, Binay also asked for prayers for all OFWs, especially those who will spend Christmas away from their loved ones. “May the Lord bless them and their families and always keep them safe,” he said. - VVP, GMA News