MANILA, Philippines – The family of executed overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Joselito Zapanta may be given the blood money raised for him, but only with approval from the donors.

This was clarified on Monday, February 29, as Senator Cynthia Villar spearheaded an inquiry into the P23-million blood money the government raised in an attempt to save Zapanta’s life.

He was executed by the Saudi Arabian government in December 2015 over the murder and robbery of his Sudanese landlord 6 years earlier.

“Tatanungin lang ang mga donors kung willing sila na ibigay sa kanila. May initial list na ng puwede, like kami at ‘yung [Blas F Ople Policy Center and Training Institute]. Pipirma lang kami at ibibigay na sa family,” said Villar in an interview with reporters.

(We will just ask the donors if they’re willing to give their donations to the family instead. There’s an initial list of those who agreed already, like my family and the Blas F Ople Policy Center and Training Institue. We just need to sign and the money will be given to the family.)

The Zapanta family – with help from the government, non-governmental organizations, and private individuals – needed to raise 4 million Saudi Arabia Riyals (SAR) or P50.86 million in blood money.

The blood money was supposed to be used to produce a tanazul or an affidavit of forgiveness that would have stopped Zapanta’s execution.

His family, however, was only able to raise 1.8 million SAR or P23 million. Former OFW affairs presidential adviser and Vice President Jejomar Binay said the government exhausted all means to save Zapanta.

Among the blood money donors were the Villar family, who donated P100,000, and the Ople Center headed by Susan “Toots” Ople, which donated less than P10,000.

“Ganoon ang process, the donors will have to agree to give it to them. But, at least, alam na natin ang proseso, magagawa na natin agad,” said Villar. (That’s the process, the donors will have to agree to give it to them. But, at least, we know the process now, we can do it immediately.)

Villar filed Senate Resolution Number 1727 earlier in February to determine what the government plans to do with Zapanta’s blood money. 

The probe would also look into what happened with the committee that President Benigno Aquino III formed in 2014 to look into blood money raised for other OFWs.

Emergency fund

During the Senate inquiry on Monday, Villar raised the suggestion for the government to put up a blood money fund for OFWs who may need it in the future. 

“We give funds for repatriation, legal assistance, why not give funds for blood money? Emergency ito. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na gobyerno ang magbabayad but at least may contribution man lang ang government,” said Villar.

(We give funds for repatriation, legal assistance, why not give funds for blood money? This is an emergency. I’m not saying the government will shoulder everything, but there should at least be a contribution from the government.)

Asked where the money will be sourced, Villar said perhaps it may be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“Sabi daw ng COA (Commission on Audit), hindi raw puwede, so we will see. We never close [doors], we always look for answers. Hindi naman ito hard and fast rule na kailangang gawin natin. We have to think of ways kung paano natin matutulungan iyong ating mga OFW,” said the senator. 

(COA said that’s not allowed, so we will see. We never close [doors], we always look for answers. This is not a hard and fast rule that we have to follow. We have to think of ways to help our OFWs.)

Assistance for the Zapantas

Zapanta’s mother, Mona, was happy upon hearing that they may soon receive parts of the blood money raised for her son. 

She also said the family is yet to receive assistance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 

“Nalulungkot po, pero ngayon na narinig ko ang sinabi ni Ma’am Cynthia Villar, medyo masaya na ako (I was said but when I heard what Ma’am Cynthia Villar said, I’m slightly happy now),” said Mona Zapanta, who previously said she no longer cared about the blood money because her son was already dead. 

Villar already gave the Zapanta family livelihood assistance on February 1. The senator said she plans to work to provide scholarship for Zapanta’s two children, aged 13 and 10. 

“May dalawang anak kasi na bata na iniwan sa kanila, iniwan na ng nanay. Matanda na sila, baka it will be hard for them to provide for small children,” she said. 

(The children were left by their mother under the care of their grandparents. They’re old already and it might be hard for them to provide for small children.)

Villar added that providing scholarship for the children is “a very worthy endeavor” that OWWA could pursue. – Rappler.com