An Appeal for Cortez and Other OFWs in Death Row

Her Excellency
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Office of the President
Malacanang, Manila
Philippines

Dear President Arroyo,

In relation to the execution of Reynaldo Cortez, may we ask your good office to act on the following?

1. Please approve the payment of the SR 100,000 blood money, which was rejected by the relatives of the Pakistani victim, to the wife and six children left behind by Cortez; Let us give the family of Cortez more than just sympathy; Let us take care of his children’s future.

2. Please create a fact finding body that will look into the reasons why the DFA in general and the Post in particular, were not able to save Cortez and after execution not able to bring home his remains. The fact finding body should verify if the following options were tried when the family of the victim rejected the SR 100,000 offered blood money:

a. Did the negotiators tried to offer a higher amount?
b. Did the negotiators tried to seek the help of the Pakistani Ambassador in Riyadh and Manila?
c. Did the concerned government agency (cies) do everything possible to save Cortez?
d. Was the Post in Riyadh aware that Cortez was to be executed on the day and hour he was executed?

3. Kindly provide us information on the status of the Office of the Legal Assistant for Migrants Workers Affairs, and the Legal Assistance Fund which were created per provisions of sections 24 to 26 of R.A. 8042; Is it existing? How many cases was it able to assist to date? What is the status of the Fund?

4. Please conduct a study for the setting up of an OFW Blood Money Fund, which could be sourced from the government’s savings on debt servicing; from portion of annual interest income on investments of OWWA; from portion of the President’s Intelligence Fund?

I am sure that you are aware that there are plenty more among OFWs who are facing possible death sentences. And for as long as there are Filipinos leaving to work in a foreign land, we will continue to encounter these kinds of problems. The government should therefore work to have a mechanism in place to address those situations.

I pray that you will look into these suggestions with favor. God bless you, your cabinet members, and your family.

Thank you.