MANILA — The Philippines said Tuesday that a Filipino who was due to be executed in Saudi Arabia this week had been given an extra three months to raise $1 million in “blood money” that would save his life. Joselito Zapanta was convicted of the 2009 murder of a Sudanese national. He was granted a reprieve following an appeal by Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on Filipino workers overseas, said a senior Saudi official informed the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh Monday that the execution has been postponed until June 8. President Aquino wrote to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah requesting for more time to raise $1 million demanded by the family of the slain Sudanese, said Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez. The deadline for raising the money was Tuesday but no execution date has been disclosed, he said. Hernandez said only $245,055 has been raised in private and government contributions. Binay said Aquino and Zapanta's mother separately wrote King Abdullah on Saturday “to ask for help.” Binay said Zapanta was visited by his mother and a Philippine embassy staff member the following day. — Agencies
