I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the family that was left behind by Joselito Zapanta, a 35-year-old Pampanga-born overseas Filipino worker (OFW). His death sentence was carried out last Dec. 29, 2015 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This event brings another wave of mourning for our migrant Filipinos, especially those who are in the death row abroad. Are we just going to wait for another Filipino to be executed?
We need transparency and accountability in determining why we cannot save the lives of our OFWs on death row. Currently, there are said to be 88 Filipinos awaiting to suffer executions abroad.
The events leading to Flor Contemplacion’s execution years ago in Singapore are once again refreshed in my mind. Flor was a domestic helper in Singapore who was sentenced to death for the murder of Delia Maga, a Filipina domestic helper, and Delia’s three-year-old ward. The two victims were found in May 4, 1991.
At first, the Singaporean Police had no suspects. It was not until they read Delia’s diary that they got leads and brought Flor in for questioning. She later admitted to committing the crime. But many still believe she was tortured into doing so by the police.
I immediately suggested to then-President Fidel V. Ramos that an inventory of sorts be done on the pending cases involving OFWs abroad and what the various embassies and consulates have done in relation to these. I again am suggesting this to our present administration
My suggestion then was enacted through a live media forum, covered by radio, TV and print media. I was the Host-Anchor of this via the Aliw Broadcasting Corporation. Then-President Fidel V. Ramos was my guest.
We looked into the cases involving OFWs including their sentences and how they are being helped by our government. We called the various Philippine ambassadors live and they themselves reported to the Filipino public.