Jonard Langamin, a 32-year-old native of Burias Island in Masbate who was spared from death in Saudi Arabia, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on board PAL flight PR683 from Mammam at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday.
Jonard was welcomed at the airport by his parents Editha Langamin, a corn vendor; former Labor undersecretary Susan V. Ople and a representative from the Office of the Vice President.
Ople, president and founder of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center—the NGO that is at the forefront of efforts to save Jonard’s life—said that Jonard was meted the death penalty by Saudi Arabia in 2008 after being found guilty of the murder of another Filipino Robertson Mendoza.
Jonard was spared from beheading in 2012 after the family of Mendoza signed a “tanazul” or affidavit of forgiveness through the intercession of the Ople Center, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay, and Filcom leaders in Saudi Arabia.
He told airport reporters that he was seeking forgiveness from the family of the deceased and admitted that being hot tempered had cause him years of incarcerations.
A remorseful Jonard said that he had to endure seven years in Saudi Arabia’s death row but thankful that the Philippine government and the Ople Foundation had secured his release.
OFW advocate Susan Ople said that she is thankful to the family of the victim (Mendoza) and will facilitate a meeting between the victim’s father and Jonard Langamin Thursday at 3 p.m. in Taguig City where the Mendoza family resides.
