OFW saved from death row

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino worker Jennifer Dalquez has been saved from the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after she was acquitted of murder, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Dalquez, a 30-year-old single mother hired as a domestic helper in the UAE, was charged with murder for killing her employer who tried to rape her in December 2014. 

The Court of Appeals in Al Ain acquitted Dalquez on June 19. The Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi said she was declared innocent without diyyah or payment of blood money.

But Dalquez will remain in jail until she fully serves her five-year sentence for stealing a mobile phone.

The DFA provided Dalquez a lawyer since her case was being heard by the Court of First Instance in March 2015. Her lawyer argued that her action was self-defense, but the lower court still sentenced her to death on May 20, 2015.

Dalquez was also sentenced to five years minus the days she spent in jail for stealing a mobile phone.

Her case was appealed before the Court of Appeals.

Her parents went to visit her in Al Ain in October 2015 and in March 2017, through the assistance of the DFA. Last April, women’s group Gabriela called on President Duterte to save Dalquez from death row during his visit to the Middle East.

DFA, DOLE, Migrante lauded

Administration lawmakers commended the efforts of the DFA, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Migrante International for working for the acquittal of Dalquez.

Reps. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque, Alfred Vargas of Quezon City and Aniceto Bertiz III of party-list ACTS OFW said DOLE and DFA did their jobs very well.

“It is very good news. We welcome this development. The government helped present new evidence in her appeal and it looks like it has paid off. We are thankful the UAE court has considered our appeal,” Tambunting, chairman of the games and amusement committee, said.

“The DFA, Migrante International and other groups and individuals who collectively helped in the plight of Jennifer should be commended. I hope that very soon Jennifer will reunite with her family here in the Philippines,” Vargas said.

Bertiz is also grateful to the UAE court, saying the verdict gives hope to others on death row.

“With this victory, we urge the DFA to exert the same efforts and tenacity for those who are in similar situation as Dalquez, and even for the other OFWs who continue to be incarcerated on various charges,” he added. – With Delon Porcalla, Mayen Jaymalin