SAUDI ARABIA: PINOY WHO KILLED FELLOW OFW ESCAPES DEATH PENALTY

January 4, 2012: An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who killed a fellow OFW in Saudi Arabia in 2008 was spared from the death penalty after the victim's relatives forgave him.
Vice President and presidential adviser on OFW concerns Jejomar Binay interceded with the kin of victim Robertson Mendoza to forgive Jonard Langamin.
Binay met with Mendoza’s father Bert, and Langamin's mother Editha, according to a news release from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) website.
"During the meeting which he presided, the Vice President guaranteed Langamin that her son would be given full legal support by the Philippine government," the OVP release said.
He also guaranteed Mendoza his family would get all benefits and assistance his slain son was entitled to.
The OVP cited records from the DFA showing Langamin stabbed Mendoza to death in 2008 because Mendoza was preventing him from singing. Meanwhile, Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center was also present during the meeting between the two families. "The act of forgiveness that would be converted into a formal letter to be submitted to the Saudi court is the key that would soon lead to Jonard's freedom," Ople said in a press statement. The case is pending before the Damman Higher Court. (Sources: VVP, GMA News, 04/01/2012; abs-cbnNEWS.com, 05/01/2012)