Villar seeks inquiry into Php23-M ‘bloody money’ for Joselito Zapanta

Senator Cynthia Villar.
(Photo from Villar’s website)

MANILA—Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday said she will file a resolution seeking an inquiry into the status of the reported Php23-million blood money which was raised to save the life of overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta.

“As one of those who contributed to the blood money for Joselito, along with countless OFWs and sympathizers, I want to know where is the money now and how will it be used,” Villar said in a press conference after meeting with Zapanta’s relatives.

Villar met and provided assistance to Zapanta’s parents Jesus and Mona and his children Maria Izil and Jomar Zapanta at the Phlippine Senate.

Joselito was executed in Saudi Arabia for robbery and murder last December 29, 2015.

“It is also important to come up with a policy to direct the utilization of money intended for blood money but was not used,” Villar pointed out.

Villar said a portion of the money should go to the two children of Zapanta to fund their education.

Villar also proposed to use part of the amount as seed money for a special fund where blood money could be sourced to help OFWs in death row.

“In the next deliberation of the General Appropriations Act, maybe we can study the need to put up a fund to assist OFWs languishing in jail aside from the Php100 million Legal Assistance Fund and the P450 million Repatriation Fund,” Villar said.

Only Php23 million was reported to have been raised from the Php48 million blood money set by the Riyadh court for the family of the slain Sudanese national.

Toots Ople of the Ople Center, said the Senate inquiry should include the five other cases of OFWs who are raising funds for blood money in exchange of the death sentence.

Aside from the parents of Zapanta, three other repatriated OFWs received assistance from Villar.

Susan Asis, 44 of Taguig, was repatriated after suffering physical abuse from her employer in Saudi Arabia. She was denied food and was locked up in her quarters. Asis is married to a tricycle driver with six children.

Frelyn Aboy, 32 years old, from Negros Oriental also received livelihood assistance from Villar. The single parent of a sickly 3-year-old daughter was deployed on Sept. 20, 2015 to Saudi Arabia. She was regularly beaten, was denied her salary, accused of theft and was also raped. She was stranded at the Social Welfare facility in Jawazat and reported to have attempted to commit suicide because of hopelessness.

Aside from the sari-sari store package, Aboy was also referred to Las Pinas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center for proper medical intervention.

Rhodel Jayson Barrera, Jr., 43 years old from Dipolog City also received assistance from Villar. He worked as an encoder/clerk in Al Khobar, KSA but went home last May 2015 because of diabetes. He was awarded with three months’ supply of Gliclazide Oral Hypoglycemic and financial assistance.