The life of a Filipino Overseas Worker (OFW) is one of immense sacrifice, but for Jennifer Arasgado Dalquez, that sacrifice led to a confrontation where she had to fight desperately for her own survival.

Her case, which resulted in a shocking de@th penalty verdict in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), galvanized massive international support and forced the Philippine government to intervene at the highest level.

The Dream Deferred and the Danger Abroad

Jennifer Dalquez, a mother of two from General Santos, was driven by the universal desire to provide for her children. In October 2011, she accepted an offer to work as a domestic helper in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

She departed without copies of her vital documents, as her agency allegedly refused to provide them—a common practice that leaves OFWs vulnerable and dependent on their employers.

The danger began early. In March 2012, while working for her first employer, the male employer attempted an indecent assault while she was showering. Jennifer managed to escape and, with the help of the female boss, was allowed to leave the household.

However, determined to save money, Jennifer remained in the UAE, eventually taking an uncertified job as an assistant to a doctor and a sideline cleaning houses. She planned to return home permanently in January 2015.

The Fatal Confrontation

The final tragedy occurred on December 7, 2014, when Jennifer arrived to clean the house of an Emirati police officer.

Moments after she began her chores, the employer approached her, armed with a knife, and attempted a violent assault.

Jennifer fought back desperately, managing to disarm the man and wound him in the right side of the chest in her act of self-defense, tragically causing his immediate loss of life.

Jennifer was immediately arrested and detained at the Al Ain Central Jail. Her frantic parents, informed by her roommate, were met with cold indifference by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), who claimed they had no information about her case.

After months of seeking answers, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed her arrest and the serious charge of homicide.

The Shock of the De@th Penalty

In May 2015, the UAE Court of First Instance delivered a stunning, devastating verdict: Jennifer Dalquez was sentenced to de@th.

Two days after the sentence, Jennifer managed to call her family personally to inform them of the news. Her terrified parents immediately appealed to the media, launching a public campaign to save their daughter’s life.

The public outcry was massive. Organizations like Migrante International and the Global Alliance of Grassroot Migrants Organizations mobilized, launching petitions and gathering support.

The Philippine government was forced to act. President Rodrigo Duterte personally ordered intervention, assigning Attorney Ner Alsamsi to handle the appeal.

The Crucial Oath Requirement

The defense’s strategy hinged on a key element of UAE law: the two sons of the deceased employer had to swear an oath in the name of Allah that Jennifer was the sole person who caused their father’s loss of life.

If the sons refused the oath, the de@th sentence could be commuted to Diyya (blood money, equivalent to PHP 3.4 million) or a prison term.

The trial was repeatedly postponed due to the failure of the sons to appear in court. Jennifer’s lawyer argued that medical evidence gathered during her arrest showed a history of severe physical abuse (including cigarette burns) inflicted by her employer, supporting her claim of self-defense.

Militant OFW groups pressured President Duterte to intercede directly with the highest officials in the UAE for executive clemency, stressing the evidence of the unprovoked attack.

Finally, in June 2017, the Appeals Court delivered a historic reversal: Jennifer Dalquez was acquitted of the homicide charge.

However, she was convicted of a lesser offense: stealing the employer’s mobile phone, and sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The Triumphant Return

Having already served a significant time in jail, Jennifer was released in October 2018.

OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed that Jennifer would be transported directly from the prison to the airport for immediate repatriation.

On November 2, 2018, Jennifer and her parents reunited at the airport. Their emotional meeting was captured by the media, symbolizing the triumph of justice and the power of collective public pressure.

Jennifer thanked President Duterte and all the groups who fought for her life. The government provided her family with financial assistance, scholarships for her children, and livelihood assistance.

The government’s intense involvement in the Dalquez case served as a profound and positive precedent, establishing that the Philippines would fight vehemently to save its overseas workers facing injustices abroad.