President Benigno S. Aquino III has formed a permanent committee to map out guidelines on how to deal with the cases of Filipinos facing execution abroad – including whether to raise blood money for them.
Vice President and presidential adviser on OFW concerns Jejomar Binay heads a list of ranking officials who will form the body, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said at a media briefing on Monday.
“The President stressed the need for a clear policy for blood money. We know our OFWs have contributed a lot to our country and there are situations where for one reason or another a crime is committed and blood money is required, especially in the Middle East nations,” Lacierda said.
He added the President formed the permanent committee to “review each and every case” and to come up with clear guidelines on how government “should deal with cases that involve blood money.”
Also, he said the government needs to make sure it is focused not only on the issue of blood money but “also to provide a support system for our overseas contract workers.”
Other than Binay, the permanent committee’s members include: Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.
Once the committee maps out answers to the issue of blood money, President Aquino “will call for another meeting and we will hopefully come up with a clear set of guidelines for blood money,” Lacierda said. (PND)
