Binay: No gov’t shortcomings in effort to save Joselito Zapanta

Mara Cepeda

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Binay: No gov’t shortcomings in effort to save Joselito Zapanta
(UPDATED) The Vice President wants to give part of the blood money to the bereaved family of the OFW, but Joselito Zapanta's mother asks, what's the use?

PAMPANGA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Vice President Jejomar Binay reiterated that the Philippine government had no shortcomings in its efforts to save the life of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta, who was executed in Saudi Arabia on December 29 last year. 

Binay, the former presidential adviser on OFW concerns, made the statement after he paid a visit to the family of Zapanta in Bacolor, Pampanga, on Tuesday, January 5. 

Hindi tayo nagkulang dun. ‘Di nagkulang ang Maynila, ‘di nagkulang ang ating mga ambassadors sa Saudi. Sabi ko nga sa inyo, nakuha pa nating makatulong [at] makuha ang ambassador mismo nung bansa…nung konsul sa Saudi Arabia,” said Binay. 

(We didn’t fall short in our efforts. Manila, our ambassadors, did everything that they could. Like I said, we even got the help of the consul in Saudi Arabia.)

Zapanta was convicted for murder with robbery involving his Sudanese landlord in 2009. 

His execution date was pushed back several times as his family attempted to raise 4 million Saudi Arabia Riyals (SAR) or about P48 million in blood money, which was needed to produce a “tanazul” or an affidavit of forgiveness that would have stopped the execution.

Blood money 

While Binay said several private individuals, the local government of Pampanga, and non-governmental organizations also tried to help, the Zapantas were only able to raise about 1.8 million SAR or P22 million.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) previously said the Philippine government was not inclined to  shoulder the full cost because of a cap in spending for blood money. 

Binay said he is in talks with the donors to give a part of the collected money to the Zapantas to help them cope with their loss.

Siyempre, nangangailangan ‘to ng livelihood. ‘Yun ‘yung pinagtutulungan namin na mapakiusapan ang nakalikom ng mga nagdonate na kasi nakalikom na ito, kaya lang di umabot e. Masyadong malaki ang diperesenya [mula dun sa kailangang pera],” he said.

(The family needs a source of livelihood. We’re talking with those who donated because we were able to raise funds already. It’s just that it was far from the needed amount.)

Binay added that he wants a separate fund for blood money to be allocated to OFWs who may need it in the future. (READ: Aquino forms committee on OFWs needing blood money)

‘Bring my son back to life’

Zapanta’s mother, Mona, was emotional during the Vice President’s visit. In between sobs, she said she no longer cared about the blood money because her son was dead. 

“Kung mabubuhay lang ‘yung anak ko, wala akong pakialam dun sa pera na ‘yun. Kunin niyo na lahat basta mabuhay ang anak ko. Mas mahalaga sa ‘kin ‘yung anak ko,” said Mona.

(I don’t care about that money. You can get everything, just bring my son back to life. My son is more important to me.)

As per Saudi Arabian law, Joselito’s body was immediately buried upon his execution and could not be repatriated. However, his mother still wished for the repatriation of his remains.

“Ang gusto ko lang talaga, ang hinihiling ko talaga, ay mauwi ‘yung anak ko kung ano man ang itsura niya (My wish is for my son to return home, regardless of how he looks like),” Mona said.

The grieving mother thanked all those who tried to help her son, including the DFA. However, she expressed disappointment in the agency as well.

Sa DFA, nagpapasalamat din ako kahit papaano tinulungan kami. Isa lang talaga ‘yung hinanakit ko sa kanila. Nung tinawag kami na sinabi na pupunta na kami sa Saudi na [malapit nang iexecute] ‘yung anak ko, nagmakaawa ako sa kanila na sana ‘yung anak na panganay, sana man lang, maisama ko, kaso di kami nila pinagbigyan. ‘Yun ang hinanakit ko,” Mona said.

(I thank the DFA for helping us, but I am also disappointed. When they called us to go to Saudi for the last time because my son would soon be executed, I begged them and asked if Joselito’s eldest child could come along, but they didn’t grant my wish.)

Zapanta has two children, aged 13 and 11.

According to Mona, the DFA reasoned that the experience would have been traumatizing for the child. 

She and daughter Rose Marie were able to visit Joselito in jail on November 28 to December 2, 2015, and earlier, in November 2012 and March 2013.

Not for politics

The Zapanta family’s house was among the stops of Binay as he did his rounds in Arayat, Bacolor, Magalang, Santo Tomas, and Mabalacat City in Pampanga. 

The Vice President, the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer for the 2016 elections, denied the visit was a part of his campaign. He argued that he worked to save Zapanta’s life as early as 2012.

“Showing deep concern and sympathy to a fallen Filipino is not politicizing the situation. It is called empathy, which this government has failed to show over and over again, particular for our overseas Filipino workers,” said Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs Rico Quicho in a statement on Wednesday.

Binay was accompanied by his son, suspended Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr; and his running mate, Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.

With them were UNA senatorial candidates Princess Jacel Kiram, Allan Montaño, Alma Moreno, Getulio Napeñas, Rey Langit, as well as lawyer Harry Roque, who is eyeing a congressional seat. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.