Kuwait Amir pardons longest serving Pinoy inmate

  • Page Views 7090
  • The long wait is over for the longest serving Filipino inmate.

    Joseph Urbiztondo will be going home to the Philippines soon after getting an Amiri pardon, confirmed Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro O. Villa, who visited Urbiztondo on Tuesday at the ‘Talha’ or Kuwait Deportation Center.

    Urbiztondo has been in the Kuwait Central Jail for 20 years now after being sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a Bangladeshi national.

    “Pinapatawad na siya at pwede na siyang makauwi dahil nasumite na natin ang tanazul o letter of forgiveness from the family of the victim [He has been forgiven and now he can come home after we’ve submitted the letter of forgiveness from the victim’s family],” said Villa.

    Villa said Urbiztondo is elated because he will soon be set free.

    “Talagang tuwang-tuwa siya, nag-uumapaw sa tuwa dahil pagkaraan ng beinte anyos, makakalaya na siya,” added Villa.

    Urbiztondo was transferred from the Kuwait Central Jail to the Kuwait Deportation Centre on Monday. His release came after paying dia (blood money) and securing a tanazul (letter of forgiveness) from the son of the victim in Dhaka, Bangladesh in September last year and eventually, an Amiri pardon was granted to him.

    “Ayon doon sa Colonel na nakausap namin na namamahala nong detention ay kinakailangan lamang na maisyuhan siya natin ng travel document at maayos natin iyong ticket dahil kung hihintayin pa natin ang ticket mula sa Ministry of Interior mas magiging matagal kaya aking pakikiusapan ang DFA na tayo lamang, ang gobyerno na lang natin ang mag provide ng ticket at aking pasasamahin si Consul General Raul Dado sa pag-uwi ni Joseph,” stated Villa.

    He thanked the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for granting pardon to Urbiztondo.

    Urbiztondo, 45, a native of Bacoor, Cavite in the Philippines was arrested by authorities on July 6, 1996 for killing a Bangladeshi national. He was later sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

    He extended his sincerest gratitude to the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his kindness and compassion.

    Share

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 21 March 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      Canada eyes space cooperation with Philippines

      The Philippines held its first space cooperation conference on March 19, 2024 as the country seeks to explore opportunities presented by the heavens. The conference was organized by the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, a Metro Manila-based think-tank; the fledgling Philippine Space Agency; and ...

    • 14 March 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Mable endorses campaign for Benson Flores marker

      Mable Elmore is supporting the campaign to raise funds for a memorial marker for pioneer immigrant Benson Flores. Elmore is the Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Vancouver-Kensington, which is also home to Mountain View Cemetery where Flores is buried in an unmarked grave. MLA Elmore ...

    • 07 March 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      Quiboloy church linked to fake marriages in Canada

      Some 100 allegedly fraudulent marriages in Canada are connected to the religious group led by the spiritual adviser of now former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. This stunning allegation was made on March 5, 2024 by Dindo Maquiling, a former follower of Apollo Quiboloy. Maquiling is a former executive director ...

    • 07 March 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      MP Valdez Visits Vancouver

      Liberal MP Rechie Valdez visited Vancouver to meet with BC Business owners at the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA) Catering in Richmond recently. The meet and greet was an opportunity for local businesses to dialogue directly with Valdez whose portfolio includes small businesses. The roundtable discussion was led ...

    • 29 February 2024
      4 weeks ago No comment

      Minimum wage increases to $17.40 an hour on June 1 VICTORIA

      For Immediate Release Feb. 26, 2024 VICTORIA – B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise when the general minimum wage increases from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with B.C.’s average rate of inflation in 2023. The alternate minimum ...

    %d bloggers like this: