OFW sentenced to death for killing boss

AN overseas Filipino worker was sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates for reportedly killing her employer in December 2014, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

Jose said OFW Jennifer Dalquez was meted the death penalty by Dubai’s Al Ain trial court on May 20. “The embassy has extended all necessary assistance, including hiring a lawyer,” he said.
Dalquez is the latest OFW to be sentenced to death abroad. DFA records showed there are 88 Filipinos in death row in various countries, including Mary Jane Veloso who was supposed
to be executed over drug charges in Indonesia.

The Philippines got lucky in Veloso’s case after Indonesia gave her a temporary reprieve when her illegal recruiter was arrested by the National Bureau of investigation. Dalquez’s mother, Rajima, insisted that her daughter was innocent, and that she only killed her employee in self-defense
as he tried to rape her. “My daughter is innocent. They will kill her. Please help me so that my daughter’s life will be spared,” Rajima said.

Jose said there are still options available to Dalquez, including appealing her sentence. “The process still has a long way to go. Her conviction was only at the level of the trial court,” he said.
“The embassy will help her in appealing the case. There is still the Supreme Court, so there is still hope that her conviction will be overturned,” Jose added.