UAE appeals court acquits OFW on death row
The Court of Appeals in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), has acquitted overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jennifer Dalquez of murder charges, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the DFA, the acquittal of Dalquez was issued at a hearing last June 19. She was declared innocent without diyyah or payment of blood money.
She was, however, sentenced to five years imprisonment, less the number of days she spent in jail, for
stealing a mobile phone, a report of the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi stated.
The 30-year-old OFW was arrested on December 7, 2014 for killing her employer who allegedly tried to rape her. The Court of First Instance of Al Ain meted the death sentence on Dalquez on May 20, 2015.
The DFA said it has extended all assistance to Dalquez, including provision of a lawyer since her case was heard by the Court of First Instance in March, 2015.
It said it was through her embassyhired counsel that the Filipina argued that she was defending herself from her employer’s attempt to rape her that led to the killing.
The Filipina’s parents also traveled to the UAE to visit her in October, 2015, and in March, 2017, through the assistance of the DFA.
Clemency appeal Migrante International called on the government to also intensify its appeal for the clemency of other OFWs who are on death row abroad.
“We would like to call on President Duterte and DFA to push for the clemency of other OFWs who are facing a death sentence,” Migrante International spokesperson Arman Hernando said in a phone interview.
“We stand resolute to continue with the fight to save all Filipinos on death row,” he added.
Migrante made the appeal after the DFA reported that the UAE court had already declared Dalquez innocent.
“We are very happy with the outcome of the case. We could like to commend the government for its efforts in assisting Dalquez,” Hernando said.
The migrant advocate group, however, urged government to review and improve its protocols in providing legal aid since it took more than two years before there was any breakthrough in Dalquez’s case.
“It was only after there was public clamor that the government really focused on Dalquez’s case,” Hernando lamented.
Hernando said they are planning to hold a thanksgiving celebration with the family of Dalquez in General Santos after Ramadan to show their appreciation to the people who helped in her case.
“On behalf of the Dalquez family, we thank all supporters, migrants’ advocates, and human rights defenders in the ‘Save Jennifer Dalquez’ campaign,” Hernando said.
Based on Migrante’s data, there are currently 69 other OFWs abroad who are on death row.
Hernando said most of the said OFWs are victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Two of the cases – those of Mary Jane Veloso and Rose Dacanay Policarpio – are being actively monitored by Migrante.
Veloso is on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, while Policarpio was meted the death sentence for allegedly murdering her employer in the KSA.
Life is saved
The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People welcomed the acquittal of Dalquez as both a triumph of truth and justice.
“Glory be to God for this good news. Our gratitude for the triumph of truth and justice as shown by government authorities of the United Arab Emirates,” ECMI Chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said in an interview.
He said they are very thankful with the decision because a life has been saved. “Life is saved,” said Santos. The ECMI head expressed hope that the decision on Dalquez will serve as a lesson to the Philippine government, especially on the need to value life.
The prelate also urged the government to continue helping other Filipinos in prison abroad.
“Help and assist those who are still in prisons, that their rights are defended and mercy is served,” Santos said. (With reports from Samuel P. Medenilla and Leslie Ann G. Aquino)