[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Sept. 15


UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:

5 prisoners may be set free after payment of diya


At least 5 Filipino prisoners in Dubai and the northern emirates may be among 
those who may be set free once the Philippine government sets a standard policy 
on payment of the ‘blood money’ to save Filipinos facing death penalty in the 
UAE and other Muslim countries.

Under the Islamic law, heirs of the victims can be compensated with ‘blood 
money’ or ‘diya’ to stop the execution of a convict.

The 5, who are in the Al Aweer Central Jail include 2 who murdered their loved 
ones in a fit of anger and jealousy. One of them is Eladio Ruiz, who killed his 
wife, Emma Cambalun, in 2010 accusing her of infidelity.


Attaché Lelita A Pangilinan, Assistance to National officer, told Khaleej Times 
that none have been convicted of murder since January this year. “All cases 
waiting for payment of diya are cases involving murders of either wife or 
girlfriend.”

Abu Dhabi has no Filipino prisoners requiring ‘diya’ this year. Consul Jose 
Jacob, Assistance to National at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, told 
Khaleej Times that this year none have been convicted for murder so far, and 
that all six prisoners who had to pay blood money to victims in 2010 had 
already paid them and had subsequently been freed.

Cases in the UAE, however, are much less compared to the murder cases in Saudi 
Arabia, one of which involves Rogelio ‘Dondon’ Lanuza. After 11 years in the 
Dammam Central Jail in the eastern district of Saudi Arabia, he posted a 
campaign on Facebook to raise SR3 million equivalent to P36 million to pay diya 
demanded by the heirs of his victim.

Lanuza was said to have acted 11 years ago in self-defence against the alleged 
sexual assault of his employer, a Saudi National Guard officer. But, in the 
process, the employer was murdered and Laniza earned an execution order. He 
faces beheading in the next few years.

However, his Facebook appeal for public support and the issuance of the heirs’ 
‘Affidavit of Desistance’ through the Saudi Reconciliation Committee prompted 
Philippine President Aquino to form an interagency group to make a study on 
‘blood money’ payments. The blood money demand of the relatives of Lanuza’s 
victim was many times bigger than what the Philippine government had paid in 
the past. Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also presidential adviser on 
overseas Filipino workers, said an interagency group he heads will soon 
recommend to President Benigno Aquino III a policy outlining when and how much 
‘blood money’ the government should pay to save citizens facing execution in 
Muslim countries.

The Philippine Consul General Benito B Valeriano said that the policy to be 
recommended to President Aquino would still go a long way to the House of 
Representatives and the Senate before it finally gets approved by the 
President.

The Philippines, one of the world’s largest labour exporters, has saved at 
least 10 Filipino convicts during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Aquino 
by helping raise money for blood money with the help of businessmen.

(source: Khaleej Times)