SAUDI ARABIA: BLOOD MONEY FOR FILIPINO ON DEATH ROW SHORT OF TARGET AMOUNT ON DEADLINE

On the day of the deadline for its payment, the blood money raised so far for Joselito Zapanta, the Filipino on death row in Saudi Arabia, is far short of the amount required for his freedom.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said Saturday (November 2) that out of the SR4 million (P45 million) needed for Zapanta's freedom, the Philippine government has only managed to raise SR520,831 (P6 million).
Zapanta was put on death row for killing a Sudanese national in 2009. Sunday, November 3, marks the deadline for the payment of blood money to the victim's family.
In an interview on Balitanghali on Sunday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said that Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago is in talks with the Ambassador of Sudan in Saudi Arabia to extend the deadline.
Hernandez said the government hopes Saudi royalty will shoulder the remaining amount, as what happened in the case of Dondon Lanuza.
Zapanta's execution date has yet to be set.
The deadline for the Filipino's blood money has been extended twice before, with the second extension announced in April.