The Philippine government confirmed that an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) was executed yesterday afternoon for allegedly killing her employer’s 22-year-old daughter in May 2007.
32-year-old Muslim Filipina Jakatia Pawa from Zamboanga was executed Jan 25 at 3:19pm, Manila time.
While Jakatia’s death sentence was handed down in 2010, her family only got wind of the scheduled execution at 5am of the same day.
Jakatia’s brother, Air Force Lt. Col. Angaris Pawa said that he was surprised to hear her sister’s fate. He received a call from Jakatia yesterday morning.
“I asked her why she was saying goodbye. She said she is already scheduled for execution. She asked forgiveness from us, my mother for her shortcomings, and told me to take care of her two children, aged 16 and 18,” Angaris said in a report by the Manila Bulletin.
According to CNN, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose said that “all efforts were made to save Pawa’s life, using diplomatic, political, and even religious channels.”
The DFA negotiated with the family of the supposed victim, but they refused to accept blood money.
Angaris maintained her sister’s innocence.
According to the Manila Bulletin report, Jakaita told her brother that “her employers went on a vacation to Iran. When they came back on May 14, 2007, her lady employer caught her 22-year-old daughter sleeping with her boyfriend in her bedroom and stabbed her in her rage. Under Islam laws, a female is forbidden to sleep with the opposite sex outside marriage.”
Jakaita’s brother and two teenage children got to see her in October. They all thought that she still had the chance to return home.
“Following Islamic tradition, the family won’t be able to get Jakatia’s remains since she has to be buried within 24 hours,” says a report by ABS-CBN.
The government is extending assistance to Jakaita’s family. The Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA) will be giving full scholarships to the children of Jakatia Pawa.
The family will also receive PHP20,000 financial assistance, including PHP20,000 in funeral assistance.
