Philippines thanks Saudi King for release of maid
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His Royal Highness, King Rody of Davao
MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the Shariah courts in Saudi Arabia, including its ruler King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, for the release yesterday of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Sarah Dematera who was convicted to hang for allegedly killing her female employer in the oil-rich kingdom in 1992.
In a statement released last night, the President thanked all those who contributed and helped raise the required amount for the settlement of Sarah’s case.
“Today, Sarah’s life has been spared, due to the beneficence of the Saudi Arabian government, particularly the Governor of the Eastern Province, Prince Muhammad Bin Adulaziz Al Saud, who made possible the expeditious release of Sarah after the court had ordered the closure of her case,” the President said.
The President received word of Sarah’s release yesterday from Ambassador Tony Villamor of the Philippine Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Three years ago, upon learning of Sarah’s predicament, the President immediately instructed the Philippine Embassy to open negotiations with the victim’s family for the possible settlement of the case that included the hiring of a Saudi lawyer.
The President lauded the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the men and women of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, including the victim’s husband, Mr. Al-Ghanam, and his family for accepting diyah, or monetary compensation, in lieu of the execution.
“I also wish to extend our gratitude to the Shariah courts in the Kingdom for their show of mercy and to His Royal Highness King Abdullah for his continued assurances of good treatment of all Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia,” the President said.
Dematera, now 35, was sentenced by a local Sharia Court in Dammam after concluding that she killed her female employer, the verdict of which was execution by beheading issued on Nov. 14, 1993.
Dematera, who has spent one-third of her life in prison, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 11, 1992 to work as a domestic helper in the Eastern Province. Four days later, the wife of Sarah’s employer, Loloa Saileh Al Humaidi was bludgeoned to death in the house. Sarah said in defense that she was framed up.
In 2004, President Arroyo instructed government officials to do back channeling work in getting the support of the Saudi Royal family including its ruler King Abdullah and other prominent citizens in the Eastern Province to intercede with members of the victim’s family for them to accept monetary compensation in lieu of execution.
Together with the sentence commutation and pardon of hundreds of Filipino convicts, Dematera was saved from death row in May 2006, capping the President’s successful state visit to the oil-rich kingdom. (OPS) davaotoday.com
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