Nov. 26
SAUDI ARABIA:
Filipino in Saudi spared from death
An overseas Filipino worker who killed another Filipino in Saudi Arabia in 2008
was spared from the death penalty after the victim's relatives forgave him and
might be reunited with his family this Christmas.
Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday said he has asked the Department of
Foreign Affairs to expedite the release of the "blood money" so that Jonard
Langamin can spend Christmas with his family.
Langamin is currently detained at the Dammam Reformatory Jail.
"This would be a great gift for our overseas workers who wish to be with their
families to celebrate Christmas," Binay said.
Binay added that Langamin would have to settle the blood money demanded by his
victim's heirs.
Once the needed amount has been paid to the victim???s family, Judge Sheikh
Ahmad Najmi Al Otaibe of the Dammam High Court will schedule a marathon hearing
for the closure of the public right aspect of the case and eventually decide on
Langamin's immediate deportation.
Under Saudi law, the private aspect of the case is more important than the
public aspect - the private aspect involves the victim's next of kin granting
forgiveness to the family of the accused.
In contrast, the public aspect deals with the state punishing the accused for
the crime committed.
Should the next of kin grant forgiveness, the state will no longer pursue the
public aspect.
Langamin is a seafarer who was charged with murder before the Dammam High Court
in Saudi Arabia for killing a fellow Filipino, Robertson Mendoza, in 2008.
Mendoza's family initially asked P5 million as blood money, which was lowered
to P2 million after Binay reconciled both families during a meeting at the
Coconut Palace.
Langamin was expected to be released in March 2012 after Mendoza???s father
signed a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness. The court, however, ruled that
Mendoza's mother, Rosemarie Santiago, should be the official representative of
the family.
According to Binay, on November 3, Judge Sheikh Ahmad Najmi Al Otaibe accepted
the tanazul presented by Santiago and as a result, Langamin will no longer be
beheaded.
(source: Manila Standard Today)
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