Death Sentence of OFW in Taiwan Commuted

BY ANNA KRISTINA P. VIRTUSIO
Bulatlat

An overseas Filipino worker escaped death by firing squad after the Appellate Court in Taiwan reduced her sentence to life imprisonment on Monday.

The decision came after Cecilia Alcaraz, an English teacher convicted by the Lower Court in Taiwan for the robbery and murder of Chou Mei-Yun, a Taiwanese job broker, filed an appeal.

“Ba’t ganon na lang tayong mga Pilipino, lagi na lang tayong inaapi?” said Jherome, the 19-year old son of Alcaraz. (Why is it that we Filipinos are always being oppressed?) Jherome said that their family did not expect her mother’s verdict because they are certain that she did not commit the murder and that there was no evidence to prove her guilt.

“Ang hiling po namin sa gobyernong Arroyo ay sana mapauwi agad ang ina namin at makapiling,” Jherome added. (Our plea to the Arroyo government is for our mother to be sent home immediately and be with us.)

Groups condemn government’s negligence

While awaiting Alcaraz’ sentence, her family, together with Migrante, and other activists groups Gabriela Women’s Party and Global International Migrant Alliance held a vigil outside the main gate of the Department of Foreign Affairs where security guards attempted to stop their protest.

The groups condemned the lack of action by the government in assisting Alcaraz and other OFWs who face injustice, while marketing Filipino labor overseas, especially to the Middle East.

Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International said that he received the news of Alcaraz’ verdict around 10 a.m. Monday. He was saddened by the news which he described as “mixed emotions” because Alcaraz was saved from death but was still convicted of the crime.

“Kahit isang segundo ay di dapat ipiit [si Alcaraz]. Kung may dapat ipiit nang habang buhay o kahit pa firing squad, ‘yan sina Gloria Arroyo, [Esteban] Conejos at Romulo,” said Migrante International Chairperson Garry Martinez. (Alcaraz should not be jailed even for just a second. If there are people who must be jailed for life, they are Gloria Arroyo, Esteban Conejos and Romulo.)

“Di sana mangyayari sa mga inang tulad ni Cecilia ang ganito kung ang gobyerno natin ay hinaharap ang kawalang-kabuhayan sa bansa,” said a representative from GABRIELA. (This would not happen to mothers like Cecilia Alcaraz if only our government addressed the problem of lack of jobs in the country)

Meanwhile, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines lamented the verdict on Alcaraz.
“Her case is yet another tragic reminder of how our sisters and brothers sacrifice their lives and limbs overseas to provide for their families back home. Their remittances have also kept our economy afloat. We rue the labor export policy of the government and its failure to provide adequate protection for these sisters and brothers, ” said the group in a statement.

More protests

Despite the commutation of the Appellate Court in Taiwan of Alcaraz’ death penalty to life imprisonment, Migrante International would be staging a camp-out outside the main gate of DFA.
“While we are relieved by the fact that Cecilia is not going to face the firing squad, we reiterate that every single minute spent by Cecilia inside Kaohsiung prison is an injustice not only to Cecilia but also to her family,” said Martinez