$1m needed to save Filipino on death row in Saudi

The Philippine government appealed on Thursday for the public to help raise almost $1 million (Dh3.67 million) needed to save a Filipino from execution in Saudi Arabia.

Labourer Joselito Zapanta was due to be executed in June for murdering his landlord but Saudi authorities extended the deadline until November 3 to allow more time for the "blood money" to be raised, the government said.

Under the Saudi justice system, Zapanta can have his death sentence waived if he pays four million riyals ($1.06 million) to the victim's family.

But so far the Zapanta family and the government have raised only $136,000, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters.

"On behalf of the Zapanta family, we continue to appeal to all kind-hearted individuals for assistance in raising the remaining amount needed for the blood money," Lacierda told reporters.

He said the victim's family and the Saudi government agreed to extend the time needed to raise the funds following requests by President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Zapanta was originally due to be executed in November last year for the 2009 murder of his Sudanese landlord.

Following Thursday's announcement, his execution date has been pushed back three times so that the blood money can be raised.

In February, a Filipino sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for killing a man he said tried to sexually abuse him walked free after a similar amount of blood money was paid to the victim's family.

In that case, the Filipino man's family raised the equivalent of $245,000, while the Saudi government paid another $615,000.

Roughly nine million Filipinos work around the world, often in menial jobs yet earning much more than they could in their poverty-stricken country.

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