RIYADH, 3 May 2007 — A Filipino maid who was sentenced to death for the 1992 slaying of her employer was turned over to Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio P. Villamor yesterday after the final installment of a SR2.5 million blood-money settlement was paid.
Sarah Dematera, who has been forgiven by the victim’s family for killing her female employer, thanked those who helped raise the blood money and the country’s courts for “their show of mercy.”
“In effect, Sarah Dematera is now free but cannot yet leave the Kingdom until certain administrative processes have been completed,” Villamor told Arab News yesterday from Alkhobar. “I would like to thank all the individuals and benefactors, many among whom have expressed their preference to remain anonymous, who contributed to and helped raise the required amount for the settlement of Sarah’s case,” said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Manila.
Arroyo also lauded the Philippine Embassy and labor officials for their efforts that resulted in the forgiveness of Dematera by the victim’s family.
The president also expressed gratitude to the victim’s family for granting forgiveness to Dematera and to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his “continued assurance of good treatment for all Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia.”
Villamor thanked Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd and the police authorities for their cooperation in the case. He also thanked President Arroyo for her support. Dematera, who was convicted 15 years ago, was scheduled for execution this year. She couldn’t be executed until the victim’s daughter turned 18 and could make a decision on the blood-money settlement.
Dematera, who hails from Iloilo, was accused of killing her employer by clubbing her with a piece of wood after the latter kept on scolding her for her unsatisfactory work.
Dematera came to work in Saudi Arabia in November 1992 to work as domestic helper. After three days she was accused of killing her female employer. She was eventually convicted and sentenced for beheading.
In December 2005, the victim’s husband agreed to issue the tanazul (forgiveness) to Dematera, but the final decision had to be made once the youngest child of the victim became an adult.
The release of Dematera was ordered on April 29, and came two months after another Filipino on Saudi death row, Reynaldo San Pedro, was freed in February.
Both were among the seven Filipinos facing capital punishment in the Kingdom. Early in November last year Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael E. Seguis flew in from Manila to work for the early resolution of their cases.
The five other OFWs convicted are Rodelio Lanuza in Khafji, Idan Tijani and Mariana Sakilan in Jeddah, and Reynaldo Cortez and Nonito Abono in Riyadh. — With input from Chito Manuel in Jeddah
