Dubai: The family of the Filipina domestic worker, who was sentenced to death in Al Ain, will have an even more special Eid Al Fitr celebrations after their daughter was spared death penalty on Monday.
Jennifer Dalquez, 30, a domestic worker, was awarded death penalty by the Al Ain Court of First Instance in May 2015 after she was found guilty of killing her employer in December 2014. She claimed it was in self-defence because her employer tried to rape her at knifepoint.
Philippine Ambassador Constancio Vingno Jr said the final hearing in Dalquez’s case was held at the Al Ain Court of Appeals on Monday.
Rajima (Alicia) Dalquez and her husband Abdul Hamid, the parents of Jennifer Dalquez, visited her in Al Ain in October 2015 and in March 2017 with the Philippine Embassy’s help. Courtesy: Migrante UAE
“Ms Dalquez was acquitted of the murder charge. She will not be paying diya or blood money. However, she was sentenced to five years for theft, less the number of years she had spent in jail, for stealing the mobile phone of the person who was killed,” Vingo told Gulf News.
Vingno said Dalquez was arrested about a week after the incident on December 7, 2014. This means she has been serving time for two-and-a-half years since.
“We are still waiting for the official report from our lawyer to ascertain the details of the verdict, but this is definitely good news for the Filipino people.”
Rajima Dalquez, Jennifer’s mother, said she could not contain her emotions when officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila called her on Monday.
“I am overwhelmed with joy. The whole family is happy now that she’s acquitted,” Rajima told Gulf News by phone from General Santos, a city in southern Philippines.
“I immediately prayed to God. He is good and merciful. The month of Ramadan played a huge role in how everything turned out as we have been praying day and night for her acquittal, her father most especially.”
Rajima said she was the one who broke the news to Jennifer.
“She called me on Monday night (around 2.30pm UAE time) and I told her she has been acquitted. She cried because she was very happy that she can finally come home after two-and-a-half years. I told her to be good and be faithful because Allah will help her.
“When I relayed the good news to her children, Mohajid, 9, and Abdurahim, 6, the latter just cried. I did too, and our tears are not of sorrow but of joy.”
Rajima prepared a simple iftar on Monday and Tuesday night to celebrate what she calls is her daughter’s victory, adding the Eid Al Fitr celebrations will be more meaningful to the family.
Dalquez’ parents visited her in Al Ain in October 2015 and in March 2017 through the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and through the Assistance To Nationals Section at the embassy.
The Philippine government assigns defence lawyers to Filipinos on trial overseas, especially in cases that have a sentence of life imprisonment or death through the government’s legal assistance fund (LAF). Last year, some 54 cases in Abu Dhabi were assisted through the LAF amounting to Dh1.1 million.
Migrant rights group, Migrante UAE, part of Migrante International that helped the Dalquez family, said they are rejoicing with the family.
“Migrante UAE joins the entire Filipino migrants around the world in rejoicing for saving the life of Jennifer Dalquez from death row. We thank the Government of the UAE through its judiciary system for the fair resolution of the case which spared Ms Dalquez from death penalty. We will keep on praying in the spirit of Ramadan, that the UAE government will allow her to join her family in the Philippines at the earliest,” Nhel Morona, Migrante Middle East coordinator, told Gulf News.
“Her victory is a victory of each Filipino migrant and their families who are never tired of seeking justice.”
