March 7
PHILIPPINES//KUWAIT:
Death sentence for OFW in Kuwait may be commuted
Vice President Noli de Castro, also the Presidential Adviser on Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFWs), yesterday expressed optimism that the death
sentence handed down to a Filipino domestic helper convicted of killing
her employer in Kuwait last year would be commuted.
De Castro revealed that the defense panel for Filipina contract worker
Marilou Ranario has found new evidence which will strengthen her defense
strategies, including the apparent receptiveness of a team of Kuwaiti
doctors to verify a claim of temporary insanity.
A team of doctors from a Kuwaiti university is expected to conduct an
investigation of the mental condition of Ranario, which, De Castro hoped,
would support the findings of National Center for Mental Health specialist
Bernardo Vicente that Ranario may be suffering from temporary insanity.
De Castro, however, did not reveal details about the new evidence
supposedly in the possession of Ranarios defense lawyers to avoid
jeopardizing her appeal for a commutation of sentence.
The Vice President visited Kuwait to personally appeal to newly-installed
emir Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah for the commutation of Ranarios
death by hanging sentence for killing her Kuwaiti employer in January
2005.
The new emir reportedly assured De Castro that his appeal on Ranarios
behalf would be considered. Other options that may be used to save the
life of the OFW were also explained.
De Castro said that the defense panels strategy is to work for a
commutation of Ranarios sentence, after which, her release would be more
easily negotiated.
De Castro said that he expected the honesty, devotion, competence and
goodwill of the 85,000 OFWs in Kuwait to be considered when the new emir
renders his final decision on Ranarios fate.
(source: Manilla Bulletin)
