KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Philippines Vice President Jejomar Binay received on Monday at the Coconut Palace in Manila a letter from Joseph Urbiztondo, the Filipino who has been in jail for 16 years and is the longest serving Filipino in the Kuwait Central Jail in Sulaibiya after being sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a Bangladeshi national in July 1996.

The letter, handed to Binay by Filipino Badminton Committee Chairman Dr Chie Umadap, contained Urbiztondo’s appeal to Binay for help to be given a new lease of life by helping him secure a tanazul (letter of forgiveness) from the family of his victim.

Urbiztondo, 41, a native of Bacoor, Cavite in the Philippines was arrested by authorities on July 6, 1996 for killing a Bangladeshi national and was later sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Urbiztondo mentioned in his letter to Binay that for him to gain his freedom he needs a tanazul or a letter of forgiveness from the family of the victim in Bangladesh and to obtain that tanazul requires the payment of dia or blood money amounting to KD 6,000 as informed by his Kuwaiti lawyer, Ahmad Qurban. According to Qurban, under the Kuwaiti law, Urbiztondo is now qualified to apply for an Amiri pardon with the supporting tanazul from the victim’s family.

Umandap disclosed to the Arab Times on the phone that Binay read Urbiztondo’s letter and the news article that was published on the Arab Times.

“He is aware of the case and he instructed Atty Ira Pozan to immediately get the report and update from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Vice President said he will look into Urbiztondo’s case,” Umandap said after during their brief meeting as Binay had to rush to the Philippines House of Representatives for the President’s State of the Nation Address.

Meanwhile, some Filipino organisations in Kuwait have expressed interest in helping raise the blood money for Urbiztondo. Some of these Filipino organizations have been working quietly within their group to help in whatever way they can to give Urbiztondo a new chance in life.

On the other hand, the Philippine Embassy stated that it has never been remiss in its duty in following up the case. It may be recalled that Urbiztondo’s name was included in the list of Filipino inmates that the Philippine Embassy submitted for the Amiri Pardon this year. The note verbale was addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting for the issuance of executive clemency or pardon for Urbiztondo, however, he was not among those pardoned this year, said Dalidig Ibrahim Tanandato, the head of the Assistance to Nationals Unit at the Philippine Embassy.

“We have written again another letter to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to follow up on the case of Urbiztondo. We’re trying our best to help him,” explained Tanandato.