Filipina in UAE saved from death row

QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – A Filipina overseas worker has been saved from death row after a United Arab Emirates (UAE) court acquitted her of the crime of murder.

Jennifer Dalquez, was sentenced to death by the Court of First Instance of Al Ain for the murder of her employer, one Mr. Alaryani, on May 20, 2015, but her case was appealed to the court, which ruled in her favor.

Dalquez ,30, was declared innocent without diyyah or payment of blood money on June 19, the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi said.

She was, however, sentenced to five years imprisonment less the number of days she spent in jail, for stealing a mobile phone.

“Through her counsel, she argued that she was defending herself from his attempt to rape her when the incident occurred on 7 December 2014,” the DFA said in a statement.

“The Department has extended all assistance to (Dalquez), including provision of a lawyer since her case was heard by the Court of First Instance in March 2015,” the DFA added.

It said her parents went to visit her in Al Ain in October 2015 and in March 2017, “through the assistance of the DFA.”

Dalquez is expected to return to the country in 2019 after she completes her sentence.