Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago expressed his appreciation yesterday to the Saudi government headed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for helping Filipino laborer Joselito Zapanta being spared the death penalty.
"I convey my...appreciation and gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and emir and deputy emir of Riyadh Region," Tago told Arab News. "With their intercession, the family of the victim of Joselito Zapanta has agreed to extend the deadline for the payment of diya or blood money until the end of 1434H or Nov. 3, 2013."
He added that "Zapanta, his family and the Philippine Embassy reiterate their gratitude to the Saudi government for all their help." "The Philippine government hopes that this extension will give more time for Zapanta and his benefactors to secure the required blood money."
Zapanta was due to be executed on March 12, but it was postponed to June 8 on orders from King Abdullah. Yesterday, it was reported that the execution had been postponed to Nov. 3, which coincides with the end of the current Islamic year.
"The postponement for the 3rd time will allow the family of Mr. Joselito Zapanta to raise the needed amount, which is SR 3.5 million," the ambassador said.
Zapanta can have his death sentence waived if he pays the amount asked by the family of the Sudanese landlord he killed. "To date the Philippine government and the Zapanta family have been able to raise SR 512,000," a statement by presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
Source: Arab News, April 20, 2013
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