THE Gabriela Women’s Party on Wednesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to seek executive clemency for an overseas Filipino worker facing execution in the United Arab Emirates.
In filing House Resolution 829, Gabriela Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas said 30-year-old Jennifer Aresgado Dalquez from Mindanao was sentenced to die by a trial court after she killed, in self-defense, her employer who attempted to rape her.
“It is unfortunate that we welcome the women’s month today with a Filipina migrant worker begging for her life. President Duterte should do whatever he can to save Dalquez from execution in UAE,” De Jesus said in the resolution.
“Circumstances like this should make President Duterte rethink the push for death penalty, as it weakens our grounds to save OFWs from the death row,” De Jesus added.
The two Gabriela lawmakers filed the resolution together with the parents of Jennifer who flew from General Santos City.
Gabriela noted in the resolution that Dalquez was doing cleaning services for households on the side while working as an assistant to a doctor in the UAE.
On Dec. 7, 2014, an Arab local contacted her to clean their home.
The local attempted to rape her at knifepoint. She fought back to defend herself and accidentally killed the aggressor, it noted.
Brosas, for her part, challenged anew President Duterte to make real his promises of creating sufficient jobs locally and ensuring the welfare of workers.
“We urge President Duterte to make true of (sic) his promises, including the promise to look after the plight of OFWs… Let his promises be not empty rhetoric as his words alone will never satisfy hungry stomachs,” Brosas said.
