An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row in Malaysia was given another lease on life as Malaysian authorities postponed the scheduled execution, following the Philippine government’s appeal.
Ejah Bin Jaafar was found guilty of murder in September 2006 and was sentenced to death in 2009. He was supposed to be executed on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, but was granted a last-minute reprieve, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Philippine government has been calling on their Malaysian counterparts to overturn Jaafar’s sentence since 2015.
“We would like to thank the Governor of Sabah (Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar bin Haji Mahiruddin) for responding to the repeated appeals of the Philippine government on behal of the family of Mr. Jaafar,” Cayetano said in a statement, adding that, “[DFA] stands ready to provide any further assistance to Jaafar and his family.”
At present, 72 Filipinos are awaiting execution in eight countries, data from DFA’s Office of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs show.
Last month, Jennifer Dalquez, an OFW in the UAE, was saved from the death row after the Court of Appeals acquitted her from the alleged crime of murder.
Photo credit. Pexels
