Filipino in Kuwait Jail for 16 Years Appeals for Assistance

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A Filipino prisoner who has been in a Kuwaiti jail for over 16 years is appealing for assistance from his government to secure his release. Joseph Urbiztondo, 41, from Bacoor Cavite, was sentenced by the Kuwaiti court to life in jail for accidentally killing his Bangladeshi co-worker in July 1996. Now, an agreed amount of ‘tanazul’, or blood money, has been accepted by the family of his victim, paving the way for his eventual release.

However, the amount agreed upon has proven too much for Urbiztondo’s relatives in Manila to raise, despite repeated appeals from his family to the Manila government for financial assistance Urbiztondo remains imprisoned in the Sulaibiya Central Jail.

Just recently, Urbiztondo once again requested his government’s assistance, this time through a letter addressed to Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is President Aquino’s presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) affairs.

“According to my lawyer [Atty Ahmed Qurban], if KD6,000 is secured, my release papers will be issued soon and I could re-join my family,” he said in his letter. Since he was imprisoned, Urbiztondo admitted to having appealed for help from many people, private individuals, NGO’s, and his government. He mentioned that he also sought help from former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the office of Philippine Senator Manny Villar but, according to him, all his and his family’s efforts did not result in assistance.

Continue reading at Kuwait Times

• Overseas Filipino Workers Raise Blood Money For Filipino Jailed In Kuwait For 16 Years
  Overseas Filipino Workers Raise Blood Money For Filipino Jailed In Kuwait For 16 Years