Sarah Balabagan

Sarah Balabagan-Sereno
Born Sarah Balabagan
(1979-08-16) August 16, 1979
Maguindanao, Philippines
Occupation Overseas Filipino Worker
(c.1993-1994)
Singer, Entertainer
Known for Her trial in the United Arab Emirates
Religion Islam (until 2003)
Protestantism
Criminal charge Premeditated murder
Criminal penalty Death penalty, by firing squad (initial sentence)
1 year of imprisonment and 100 lashes
Criminal status Released (1996)

Sarah Balabagan-Sereno[1] (pronounced Ba-la-BAH-gan; born August 16, 1979) is a Filipina who was imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates from 1994–1996 for murder. She was initially sentenced to death, but was later returned to the Philippines. Her story was made into a controversial film in 1997.

Early life

Balabagan grew up in a poor Muslim family in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Maguindanao. She had 13 brothers and sisters but only six survived. Her siblings died due to disease and because of her family's financial constraints, it prevented them from availing adequate medical care. She worked for relatives at a young age to support her studies. She only managed to reach the fifth grade.[2]

Employment

At age 14, Balabagan decided to work abroad. Her recruiter listed her age as 28 and managed to secure a job for her. She learnt of this falsification only when she was already on her flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. She was tasked by contract to work for a 67 year old widower with four sons. Balabagan was anxious of the employment and convinced herself that her employers would respect her since she and they were Muslims.[2]

This was later proven to be false, as Balabagan became a subject of unsolicited sexual advancements.[2]

Case

On July 19, 1994, she killed her employer, Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi, stabbing him 34 times. She alleged that he had tried to rape her, and that she was acting in self-defence.

On June 26, 1995, a court ruled that she was guilty of manslaughter as well a victim of rape. She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and ordered to pay 150,000 dirhams (US$40,000) in blood money to al-Baloushi's relatives, while at the same awarded 100,000 dirhams (US$27,000) as compensation for the rape.[3] However, the prosecution appealed the verdict, calling for the death penalty. On September 6, 1995, a second Islamic court found no evidence of rape and convicted her of premeditated murder, sentencing her to death by firing squad. There was an international outcry and a defense campaign in several countries, as her case was seen as symbolising the ill-treatment of domestic servants in the Gulf countries, and just a few months earlier there had been the rather similar case of Flor Contemplación, a Filipina domestic worker who was hanged in Singapore that March.

Reportedly, it was only after a personal appeal for mercy by President of the United Arab Emirates Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that al-Baloushi's family agreed to drop their execution demand in exchange for blood money.[4] On October 30, at her third trial, her sentence was reduced to a year's imprisonment and 100 strokes of the cane, along with payment of blood money, which was donated by a Filipino businessman. She was caned in 20 strokes at a time over five days spanning January 30 – February 5, 1996. Philippine Ambassador Roy Señeres said "Balabagan said it was bearable. Embassy officials visited her twice afterward, and there were no marks or bruises or reddening." [5] However, she later said that her injuries were more serious than she said at the time.[6][7] She returned to the Philippines on August 1, 1996, to a hero's welcome.

Later life

Shortly after her release, Balabagan embarked on a career as a singer, appearing on a television programme with Geri Halliwell.

In 1998, she became a single parent after a brief relationship. In August 2003, she announced her engagement to Russell Vergara. She went on to have two more children. She later converted from Islam to Christianity after a Christian singer, Dulce Amor introduced her to Rev. Gasti Maribojoc, a pastor.[2] She and Vergara divorced in 2010.[6]

In 2013 she married June Sereno, and they have a child. [7]

In film

Balabagan's story was dramatised in the 1997 Philippine film The Sarah Balabagan Story. Directed by Joel Lamangan the Tagalog-language film starred Vina Morales in the title role which was initially offered to Balabagan herself but had declined. The government of the Philippines made several attempts to prevent the film from being shown lest it damage bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates, and its release was delayed for several months.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "How Seneres saved 14-year-old OFW from death row". ABS-CBN News. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rodis, Rodel (8 April 2009). "Sarah Balabagan, from Muslim to Christian". Global Nation. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Amnesty International is concerned about the capital sentence imposed on Sarah Balabagan", September 27, 1995.
  4. ↑ "Filipina maid sentenced to caning, prison in Emirates", Nando Times, October 30, 1995.
  5. ↑ "Philippine Maid Gets Symbolic 100 Lashes", Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1996.
  6. 1 2 Sarah Balabagan The next chapter
  7. 1 2 http://www.thefilipinochronicle.com/hfchronicle%20Feature-Exclusive%20Interview_05142016.html Interview with Filipino Chronicle
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