ANTIPOLO City, Sept. 10, 2011—Migrante-Middle East urged Malacañang to disclose its policy on blood money (diyya) as part of the efforts of saving the lives of Filipino workers in death row.
Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Monterona said, it has been two months since the Palace had created a technical working group to study the policy about giving out diyya but until now, there are no reports being publicized.
Monterona recalls that it was on July 20th when the President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III had had a meeting with the officials of the departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Budget and Management, and the Office of Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs to discuss the matter of giving diyya in order for the family of the offended person to withdraw the case against the offending OFW.
“It was Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, on July 21st, who had announced the formation of the said technical working group. We believe it is time to hear from the Malacañang-formed TWG about the policy proposals in regards to finding sources for the blood money of OFWs on death row,” Monterona said.
It was Dondon Lanuza who had been consistently appealing to raise blood money for his release. Lanuza, who accidentally killed a Saudi national out of self-defense, was in Dammam Central Jail since year 2000.
The family of the offended party, based on reports gathered by Migrante, is willing to issue an affidavit of desistance if Lanuza can give a diyya worth some thousands of US dollars.
“Mrs. Rowena Lanuza, Dondon’s mother, sought our assistance to help her arrange a meeting with Vice President Jejomar Binay, also presidential adviser on OFWs concerns,” Monterona said.
“She is to arrive mid-September from the United States to personally appeal to Vice President Binay and to the officials of agencies concerned about the diyya,” the migrant leader added. (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)
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