DFA confirms OFW Jakatia Pawa executed in Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, January 25, the execution of Jakatia Pawa, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait.

DFA confirms OFW Jakatia Pawa executed in Kuwait
Overseas Filipino Worker Jakatia Pawa was executed in Kuwait on Wednesday afternoon. Photo Credit: Facebook/Susan Ople
Pawa was executed at 3:19 p.m. (local time), according to DFA spokesperson Charles Jose in a press conference.

Pawa was sentenced to death by the Kuwait Criminal Court on April 14, 2008 for allegedly killing the 22-year old daughter of her employer. The alleged incident took place on May 14, 2007. On June 15, 2009, Kuwait's Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the trial court. On January 19, 2010, the Kuwait Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence.

DFA said that they have pursued different channels of efforts to save life of Pawa, including high-level intercessions led by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The department added that Embassy has likewise been unrelenting in appealing to the familily of the victim to grant the "tanazul" or letter of forgiveness in favor of Pawa but to no avail.

The family of Pawa was able to travel in Kuwait three times to visit her. The last one took place in October 2016 and included her two children and brother.

Senator Cynthia Villar has filed Senate Bill 146, which seeks to create the Department of Migration and Development. It is crafted with the welfare of 10 million overseas Filipinos in mind.

"With this legislation, we hope to be able to create a dedicated department that will look after our kababayans who are in need of assistance from our government," Villar said.

Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva urged DFA and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to strengthen their policies and craft more stringent legislations that would protect the welfare of our modern-day heroes.

At present, there are 68 death penalty cases being faced by our OFWs in several parts of the world.

"It is our continuous call for the concerned government agencies to strictly monitor their cases and prevent another incident like this to happen in the future," Villanueva said.



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