Sarah Balabagan
Encyclopedia
Sarah Balabagan (her family name
is phonetically pronounced as Ba-la-BAH-gan) was a Filipina
prisoner in the United Arab Emirates
during 1994 - 96 whose case caused a good deal of controversy. Her story was made into a controversial film
in 1997.
in the southern Philippines, in the town of Sultan Kudarat, province of Maguindanao. She was the fourth of a family of fourteen children, half of whom died in childhood. She has implied that she was abused by an uncle as a child.
Like many Filipinos, she left to become a domestic worker
, lying about her age, and obtained a post in the town of Al Ain
in the UAE. On July 19, 1994, she killed her employer, Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi, stabbing him 34 times. She alleged that he tried to rape
her, and that she was acting in self-defense. 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
($40,000) blood money to relatives of the deceased, while at the same time she was awarded 100,000 dirhams ($27,000) as compensation for the rape. 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 Persian Gulf
countries, and just a few months earlier there had been the rather similar case of Flor Contemplación
, a Filipina domestic servant who was hanged in Singapore
.
Reportedly, it was only after a personal appeal for mercy by the President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed that the victim's family agreed to drop their execution demand in exchange for blood money. 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 during January 30 - February 5 in 1996. Philippine Ambassador Roy Seneres said "Balabagan said it was bearable. Embassy officials visited her twice afterward, and there were no marks or bruises or reddening." She returned to the Philippines on August 1, 1996 to a heroine's welcome.
, directed by Joel Lamangan
, and starred Vina Morales
in the title role. Balabagan was offered the chance to play herself, but declined. The government of the Philippines made several attempts to prevent the film from being shown, on the grounds that it might have damaged relations with the United Arab Emirates
, and its release was delayed for several months. (It was made in the Tagalog language
; there does not appear to be an English version.)
. In 1998, she became a single parent after a brief relationship with a broadcasting journalist
. In August 2003 she announced her engagement
to Russell Vergara. She went on to have two more children. She later converted from Islam to become a Christian
.
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
is phonetically pronounced as Ba-la-BAH-gan) was a Filipina
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
prisoner in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
during 1994 - 96 whose case caused a good deal of controversy. Her story was made into a controversial film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
in 1997.
Her case in the UAE
Balabagan grew up in a Muslim community on the island of MindanaoMindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
in the southern Philippines, in the town of Sultan Kudarat, province of Maguindanao. She was the fourth of a family of fourteen children, half of whom died in childhood. She has implied that she was abused by an uncle as a child.
Like many Filipinos, she left to become a domestic worker
Domestic worker
A domestic worker is a man, woman or child who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping...
, lying about her age, and obtained a post in the town of Al Ain
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
in the UAE. On July 19, 1994, she killed her employer, Almas Mohammed al-Baloushi, stabbing him 34 times. She alleged that he tried to rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
her, and that she was acting in self-defense. On June 26, 1995, a court ruled that she was guilty of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
as well a victim of rape. She was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and ordered to pay 150,000 dirhams
United Arab Emirates dirham
The dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. The ISO 4217 code for the United Arab Emirates dirham is AED. Unofficial abbreviations include DH or Dhs. The dirham is subdivided into 100 ....
($40,000) blood money to relatives of the deceased, while at the same time she was awarded 100,000 dirhams ($27,000) as compensation for the rape. 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
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by firing squad
Execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
. 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 Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
countries, and just a few months earlier there had been the rather similar case of Flor Contemplación
Flor Contemplacion
Flor R. Contemplacion born in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines was a Filipina domestic worker who was executed in Singapore for murder...
, a Filipina domestic servant who was hanged in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Reportedly, it was only after a personal appeal for mercy by the President of the UAE Sheikh Zayed that the victim's family agreed to drop their execution demand in exchange for blood money. On October 30, at her third trial, her sentence was reduced to a year's imprisonment and 100 strokes of the cane
Caning
Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks or hand . Application of a cane to the knuckles or the shoulders has been much less common...
, 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 during January 30 - February 5 in 1996. Philippine Ambassador Roy Seneres said "Balabagan said it was bearable. Embassy officials visited her twice afterward, and there were no marks or bruises or reddening." She returned to the Philippines on August 1, 1996 to a heroine's welcome.
Film version
In 1997 her story was made into a film, The Sarah Balabagan Story. It was made in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, directed by Joel Lamangan
Joel Lamangan
Joel Lamangan is a Filipino film director, television director and actor. He rose to fame in the early 1990s as an auteur dramatic filmmaker. His award-winning films includes Sidhi, Deathrow, Hubog, Aishte Imasu 1941, Blue Moon and Mano Po.On August 19, 2008, Lamangan directed his first indie movie...
, and starred Vina Morales
Vina Morales
Vina Morales is a Filipina singer, actress and model.-Career:...
in the title role. Balabagan was offered the chance to play herself, but declined. The government of the Philippines made several attempts to prevent the film from being shown, on the grounds that it might have damaged relations with the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, and its release was delayed for several months. (It was made in the Tagalog language
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
; there does not appear to be an English version.)
Later life
Shortly after her release, Balabagan embarked on a career as a singer. She also appeared on a television programme with Geri HalliwellGeri Halliwell
Geraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell is an English pop singer-songwriter, author and actress. After coming to international prominence in the late 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of the girl group the Spice Girls, Halliwell launched her solo career in 1998 and released her album Schizophonic...
. In 1998, she became a single parent after a brief relationship with a broadcasting journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. In August 2003 she announced her engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
to Russell Vergara. She went on to have two more children. She later converted from Islam to become a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.