OFW FORGIVEN BY VICTIM’S KIN MAY BE HOME THIS MONTH – VP BINAY

The Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who killed a fellow OFW in Saudi Arabia and was subsequently forgiven by his victim’s family could be home within the month, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay said.

Binay, the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, said the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has already filed with the court the affidavit of forgiveness signed by the father of slain OFW Robertson Mendoza, to secure the freedom of Jonard Langamin.

The affidavit of forgiveness or tanazul, was signed by the victim’s father, Bert Mendoza, after the payment of diyyahor blood money.

The Vice President had advanced the payment from his personal funds.


Binay said a hearing on the tanazul is scheduled this week. If the court approves the forgiveness, Langamin may be released by March.

Binay had earlier arranged for the reconciliation of the families of the victim and the accused at the Coconut Palace.

A week after the two families met, the victim’s signed thetanazul, releasing the private aspect of the murder.

In Saudi Arabia law, the private aspect of the case is more important than the public aspect. The private aspect involves the next of kin of the victim granting its forgiveness to the family of the accused, while the public aspect deals with the State punishing the accused for the crime committed.

The private aspect of a crime may be dispensed with by getting the forgiveness of the family of the victim. An affidavit of forgiveness is a gesture of peace and goodwill that waives all civil rights against the accused.

If the next of kin grants its forgiveness, the State will no longer pursue the public aspect.

Langamin was charged with the murder of Mendoza before the Damman Higher Court in 2008.