THE family of slain overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Ronald Jumamoy has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to represent them in pursuing justice in Saudi court for his murder in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last January 27.
Ronald’s remains arrived in Manila last week and was flown to Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City.
His family waited for more than two months for the repatriation of his remains.
“We have been waiting for months for his remains to arrive so that we can pay our last respect and bestow a decent burial in our hometown,” Anne Jumamoy, Ronald’s sister, said.
“We have long suffered in pain and now, we hope that justice shall be served according to the laws and practices in Saudi Arabia so that we can pick up the bits and pieces of our lives that have been shattered by his death,” she added.
Under the Shariah law, there are two aspects of a murder case: the public action where the punishment is meted for offense against the law or religion, and the private rights of actions is for compensation for the victim or the victim’s family.
“We are still thinking if we will demand for blood money. What is important now is an early court decision for qisas (or beheading) or should we decide to forgive in exchange of diyat (or blood money),” Anne said.
But what we need right now is to ready a special power of attorney for the Philippine embassy to proceed with private rights of action, she explained.
Ronald is a 26-year-old native of Montevista, Compostella Valley and had worked as a cashier in a convenience store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Last Jan. 27, he figured in a scuffle when he tried to confront a Syrian national who took an item from the convenience store without paying.
He was eventually floored and hit his head in the pavement. He was in coma for days until he died last Feb. 12.
The Jumamoy family sought the help of Saudi-based Patnubay sa mga Manggagawang Pilipino organization, ACTS-OFW Partylist Nominee John Bertiz and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center to facilitate the swift repatriation of Ronald’s remains.
The Blas F. Ople Policy Center is headed by senatorial candidate Susan ‘Toots’ Ople.
“We are thankful that our fellow OFW Ronald will be finally laid to rest. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family during these trying times, but we want to assure them that we will help them seek justice for his death,” Bertiz said.
He assured that he, along with Patnubay and the Ople Center, will continue to assist the Jumamoy family until all money claims, including insurance, burial and death benefits, have been completed by concerned parties. GLOCAL PINOY/FJ MAGLALANG
