PR-426-09, 19 June 2009 – Committed to support Filipinos on death row overseas, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has approved the release of US$25,000 (approximately P1.2 million) to save the life of Filipino worker Jakatia Pawa in Kuwait.

Upon the approval of the President, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban B. Conejos, Jr. released the fund which will be used by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to appeal Pawa’s case with Kuwait’s Court of Cassation.

Pawa’s death sentence has been upheld by the Kuwait Court of Appeals. DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo immediately directed Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya to facilitate the filing of an appeal within 30 days.

The appeal will be done in consultation with Pawa’s lawyers.

Pawa, a household service worker, was sentenced to death on 13 April 2008 for killing her employer’s 22-year-old daughter. She denied the charges against her and told the judge that one of the victim’s family members might have committed the crime. END

Source: http://dfa.gov.ph/?p=6139