MikeLigalig.com

A Filipino domestic helper facing the death penalty in Kuwait for killing her female employer could get her sentence reduced after the Philippine Embassy convinced the victim's mother and two siblings to forgive her.

Vice President Noli de Castro, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, relayed the news from Ambassador to Kuwait Ricardo Endaya.

De Castro said the embassy was now working to convince the victim's estranged husband as well as another sibling to forgive Marilou Ranario, a move which could reduce the death sentence meted by a Kuwaiti court.

Ranario, from Bicol, admitted to killing her employer in January 2005 after the latter had repeatedly maligned Filipinos.

According to De Castro, the embassy has hired another lawyer to argue Ranario's case in the Kuwaiti Supreme Court which is scheduled to hear the appeal this week.

The Department of Foreign Affairs denied reports that Ranario had only 16 weeks to live, saying the verdict was still on appeal.

source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer