OFW on Taiwan death row suffers from arthritis

MANILA, Philippines - Jailed overseas Filipina worker Cecilia Armia Alcaraz (a.k.a Nemencia Armia Panaglima) is suffering from muscle pains due to arthritis, according to Manila’s de-facto embassy in Taiwan. The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said in a statement that the 39-year-old native of Liliw town, in Laguna province was being treated in her confinement in Taiwan. “She only complained of her arthritic knee but said medicine is being provided," the MECO said in an e-mail. Taiwan’s Court of Appeals on Friday granted Alcaraz, sufficient time to appeal her death sentence. No date yet has been set for the next hearing. Meanwhile, MECO said the appeal process usually takes a few months. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the case will automatically be reviewed by Taiwan's Supreme Court. On Thursday, October 24, Alcaraz’s brother, Jesus and her sister-in-law Leticia Jao, boarded a Cebu Pacific flight to Kaoshiung to attend the hearing the next day. Last September 30, the Kaoshiung district court sentenced Alcaraz to death for robbing and murdering Chiu Mei-yun (English name: Anita), a broker for English teachers in Taiwan. According to documents sent by MECO to GMANews.TV, the Taiwanese court found the Filipino academic tutor guilty of murdering Chiu in 2007. In his visit to Armia last Friday, MECO managing director Antonio Basilio said he assured the Filipina worker of the government’s full support on her case. MECO arranged for the legal representation for Armia from the investigation phase of the case, the trial, and to the appeals proceeding. Armia’s case was brought to the public’s attention after a convicted Filipino in Jeddah Jenifer Bidoya was beheaded last October 13. Bidoya’s relatives claim Philippine officials would have been prompted to act immediately on the 23-year-old’s case if only the Department of Foreign Affairs had not prevented them from approaching the media and migrant workers’ groups for help. Alcaraz entered Taiwan on September 12, 2001 as a caretaker. After running away from her employer, she met an American, David Michael Fillion, who became her live-in boyfriend in 2003. In 2004 when she was working as an academic tutor, Alcaraz met Chiu. On September 12, 2007, she called Chiu to her residence. They had an argument following the meeting, and Alcaraz reportedly stabbed Chiu after the Taiwanese woman scolded her. The Filipina allegedly stole several cell phones and a total of 13, 790 Taiwanese dollars (US$43) in cash from Chiu and forced the woman to disclose the PIN of her several ATM cards. Alcaraz later withdrew the cash, while Chiu went into a shock and died. When Alcaraz was certain that Chiu was dead, she cleaned the blood stains and disposed of the body in a container bag. The police on patrol found the “suspicious" bag container and traced the crime scene to Alcaraz’s residence. A short knife was confiscated, according to court records. Alcaraz’s boyfriend was also implicated in the crime but was taken off the charge sheet when he committed suicide on June 8, 2008 upon his return to the US. Basilio said MECO had talked to Laguna governor Teresita Lazaro regarding Armia’s four children in Liliw. Lazaro reportedly promised to to look after the educational needs of Armia’s children. Armia’s sister, Rosalinda, pleaded to government officials to save the life of her sister for the sake of her children. - Mark Joseph H. Ubalde, GMANews.TV