Noy asks Saudi king to defer Zapanta's execution

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government has asked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to hold the execution of overseas Filipino worker Joselito Zapanta.

The government made the request after Zapanta's family failed to raise the P44- million blood money being asked by the family of the OFW's Sudanese victim.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III has requested the Saudi King for more time to get the blood money and spare Zapanta from execution.

"President Aquino sent a letter dated March 5, 2013 to King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, requesting for the deferment of Mr. Zapanta's sentence to give the latter's family more time to raise the blood money," Valte said. "According to DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), the letter has been already sent to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Zapanta has been sitting on death row in Saudi for killing his Sudanese landlord over an argument on house rental in 2009.