QUOTE
12/11/2004
Free at last!
By CRISTINA LEE-PISCO
People's Tonight
SAVED from death by beheading, Primo Gasmen, a Filipino accused of killing a Nepalese co-worker, was ordered released by a Saudi prison where he has been detained since 1999, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Gasmen, who hails from Pangasinan, work at the Al-Rajhi and Sons Company in Riyadh from 1995 until he was put on death row for the killing of Khim Bahadur Gurung. He claimed to have stabbed the Nepalese in self-defense.
The decision to free Gasmen was handed down last Dec. 8, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said. "He was with Philippine Embassy representatives when the decision was read," he said.
The Riyadh Grand court assured that upon the completion of all the necessary papers, Gasmen will be repatriated to the Philippines.
In 2002, People's Tonight International raised P650,000 of the "diya" or blood money that reached the equivalent of $15,000 (or P800,000). The balance was paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Journal Group's contribution was given to the late Blas Ople, then Foreign Affairs secretary.
Under the Saudi justice system, blood money is required to spare a convict of punishment. The blood money was given to the parents of Gurung who used it for the education of the victim's siblings in Nepal.
The Philippine embassies in Riyadh and New Delhi, India and the honorary consulate in Kathmandu, Nepal initiated negotiations for the settlement of the case through the payment of the blood money.
During negotiations, the DFA sent a legal team to India and Nepal to handle negotiations with the Gurung family. On Nov. 25,2002 the legal team paid the blood money in exchange for the "Affidavit Of Forgiveness" executed by the Gurung family.
On Aug. 24,2003, the legal team again went to India and Nepal and fetched the victim's mother and uncle to bring them to Saudi Arabia to personally verify the au-thenticity of the affidavit.
According to Gasmen, he owed Gurung 1,500 Saudi Riyals and the latter deferred to write off the debt in exchange for sexual favors. His refusal angered Gurung who allegedly tried to stab Gasmen. In the struggle, Gurung was killed.
Free at last!
By CRISTINA LEE-PISCO
People's Tonight
SAVED from death by beheading, Primo Gasmen, a Filipino accused of killing a Nepalese co-worker, was ordered released by a Saudi prison where he has been detained since 1999, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Gasmen, who hails from Pangasinan, work at the Al-Rajhi and Sons Company in Riyadh from 1995 until he was put on death row for the killing of Khim Bahadur Gurung. He claimed to have stabbed the Nepalese in self-defense.
The decision to free Gasmen was handed down last Dec. 8, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said. "He was with Philippine Embassy representatives when the decision was read," he said.
The Riyadh Grand court assured that upon the completion of all the necessary papers, Gasmen will be repatriated to the Philippines.
In 2002, People's Tonight International raised P650,000 of the "diya" or blood money that reached the equivalent of $15,000 (or P800,000). The balance was paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Journal Group's contribution was given to the late Blas Ople, then Foreign Affairs secretary.
Under the Saudi justice system, blood money is required to spare a convict of punishment. The blood money was given to the parents of Gurung who used it for the education of the victim's siblings in Nepal.
The Philippine embassies in Riyadh and New Delhi, India and the honorary consulate in Kathmandu, Nepal initiated negotiations for the settlement of the case through the payment of the blood money.
During negotiations, the DFA sent a legal team to India and Nepal to handle negotiations with the Gurung family. On Nov. 25,2002 the legal team paid the blood money in exchange for the "Affidavit Of Forgiveness" executed by the Gurung family.
On Aug. 24,2003, the legal team again went to India and Nepal and fetched the victim's mother and uncle to bring them to Saudi Arabia to personally verify the au-thenticity of the affidavit.
According to Gasmen, he owed Gurung 1,500 Saudi Riyals and the latter deferred to write off the debt in exchange for sexual favors. His refusal angered Gurung who allegedly tried to stab Gasmen. In the struggle, Gurung was killed.
The Filipino government is so nice.
