DFA: OFW executed by hanging in Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday confirmed that a Filipina household worker has been executed in Kuwait despite efforts of the government to negotiate for her life.

Jakatia Pawa was accused for stabbing to death the 22-year-old daughter of her employer while she was asleep on May 14, 2007.

DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said that Pawa was executed by hanging in Kuwait at around 3:19 p.m. (Manila time). Her remains will be buried immediately in Kuwait following Islamic practices.

In a press briefing, Jose said that the Philippine government tried to negotiate for payment of blood money to spare Pawa but the family of the victim refused and demanded her death.

An Egyptian forensic expert who investigated the case earlier said that Pawa does not have any fingerprint in the crime scene. 

The bloodstains found at the crime scene did match with that of Pawa, according to the forensic expert.

The DFA noted that it was too late to bring up the claim of the Pawa family that it was the victim's own kin who killed her.

About 88 Filipinos are on death row around the world, Jose said.

"We regularly update our matrix of OFWs on death row around the world. In the Pawa case, we've been negotiating blood money since 2007," Jose said.

In Pawa's case, the victim's family wanted "blood for blood." The Philippines was only informed of Pawa's execution yesterday.