GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Relatives of slain overseas Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende have turned down the blood money or “diyyah” offered by her employer who was accused of killing her in Kuwait.
Nelly Padernal, auntie of Jeanelyn, said Jeanelyn’s father, Abelardo Villavende, rejected the P50-million blood money offered by the victim’s Kuwaiti employer as settlement for the criminal charges which stemmed from the killing of Jeanelyn last Dec. 28.
“Our family wants justice for the killing of Jeanelyn,” Padernal said.
Padernal said personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs arrived in Norala, South Cotabato last Thursday during the burial of Jeanelyn and asked Abelardo to a sign a document which purportedly indicated a settlement of the case in exchange for a R50-million blood money.
Padernal said Jeanelyn’s employer should be meted the with death penalty for killing her.
Jeanelyn’s remains showed signs of severe physical beatings and sexual abuse before she was killed.
“We cannot accept the manner she was killed,” Padernal said.
Villavende’s death prompted the government to impose a total deployment on OFWs to Kuwait. (Joseph Jubelag)
