Flor Contemplacion

Flor Ramos Contemplacion (January 7, 1953 – March 17, 1995) was a Filipina domestic worker executed in Singapore for murder. Her execution severely strained relations between Singapore and the Philippines, and caused many Filipinos to vent their frustrations over the plight of Overseas Filipino Workers towards both states' governments.

Flor Ramos Contemplacion
BornJanuary 7, 1953
San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines
DiedMarch 17, 1995(1995-03-17) (aged 42)
Changi Prison
Changi, Singapore
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
NationalityFilipino
OccupationDomestic worker
Known forExecuted by the Government of Singapore for murder

Early life

Contemplacion was born in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines.

Background of case

On 4 May 1991, Delia Mamaril Maga (born on October 6, 1955 in Tarlac), a Filipino domestic worker, was found strangled to death in Singapore. A three-year-old boy, Nicholas Huang, whom Maga had been taking care of, was discovered drowned. Although Huang's father could not identify a suspect, the police learnt about Contemplacion through Maga's diary. The police interrogated Contemplacion, who initially confessed to the crimes of murdering Maga and Huang.[1] Contemplacion never retracted her confession,[1] and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore deemed her confession credible. She was then sentenced to death by hanging.

Trial

No medical evidence was introduced either by the prosecution or the defence during the trial, in spite of bizarre symptoms experienced on the day of the murders which she described in her confession. A witness, Evangelline Parale,[2] said later that she had shared the same hospital with Contemplacion. The latter one day narrated how Nicholas Huang accidentally drowned, and that Maga's employer was probably the one who killed her, out of rage for his son's death. The witness also confirmed that Contemplacion related how she was tortured into accepting blame for Maga's death.

On appeal, the case was sent back to the same trial judge to allow medical evidence to be heard. The defence then introduced medical evidence claiming that she had been suffering from a partial complex seizure (an unusual form of epilepsy) at the time of the killings, while the prosecution's medical evidence maintained that she was only suffering from a mild migraine on that day. The defence's medical evidence was rejected and she was again found guilty and sentenced to death.[1] She received minimal consular support from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore throughout her trial and there was no representative from the Philippine Embassy present in court throughout the duration of the trial. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Singapore showed an active interest only in the weeks leading up to Contemplacion's execution, when emotions in the Philippines were running high.

Execution

Contemplacion was hanged at dawn on 17 March 1995 at the Changi Women's Prison and Drug Rehabilitation Centre despite a personal plea for clemency to the Singaporean government from Philippine President Fidel Ramos.[1]

Aftermath

Although President Ramos seemed initially resigned to the execution, he called Contemplacion a heroine. His wife, First Lady Amelita Ramos, went to receive Contemplacion's coffin at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila on 19 March. Contemplacion's body was carried from the airport to San Pablo, and thousands of Filipinos lined the route.[3] President Ramos sent a wreath to Contemplacion's wake and offered financial assistance to Contemplacion's four children, who were dependent on their mother's income as a domestic worker, pledging one month of his salary to a scholarship fund.[3] The Alex Boncayao Brigade, a Filipino terrorist group, threatened to punish Singaporean and Filipino officials, while prelates of the local Catholic Church also condemned the execution.

There were several protests held across the Philippines over Contemplacion's execution, some of which were organized by politicians and labor organizations. In one of the protests, the then-mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte, burned a flag of Singapore while leading 1,000 employees of Davao City in protest.[4][5]

When Contemplacion and Maga's bodies were repatriated to the Philippines, autopsies revealed that Maga had a fractured skull and her throat was almost crushed due to the force inflicted in it. Further investigations revealed that a typical woman would not have been able to exert that much force.

Many Filipinos believed that Contemplacion was innocent or at least insane, blaming the Singaporean government for a lack of compassion, and the Philippine government for not doing enough to stop the execution. The Philippine Embassy in Singapore in particular was criticised since it did not even have a consular representative as an observer in court throughout the trial. The Philippine Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Romulo, and of Labor and Employment, Nieves Confessor, both resigned as a result of the controversy.[6]

Bilateral relations between Singapore and the Philippines soured for several years after the execution. President Ramos recalled the Filipino ambassador to Singapore, and many bilateral exchanges between the countries were cancelled.

Contemplacion, regardless of her innocence or guilt, became an icon for the allegedly inhumane, abusive, and exploitative working conditions that many Filipino domestic workers and labourers face abroad. Public anger in the Philippines continued with the similar case of Sarah Balabagan in the United Arab Emirates several months later; Balabagan's life was ultimately spared.

The Flor Contemplacion Story, directed by Joel Lamangan and starring Nora Aunor in the role of Contemplacion, was released by Viva Entertainment and also won Best Picture in the Cairo Film Festival in 1995.

The story of the victim was also featured in another film Victim No. 1: Delia Maga (Jesus, Pray for Us! : A Massacre In Singapore) , directed by Carlo J. Caparas.[7]

In 1995, there is another documentary film of both Flor Contemplacion and Delia Maga in 1995 film called Bagong Bayani (aka "A New Hero" or "Unsung Heroine"), directed by Tikoy Aguiluz. Starring Helen Gamboa as Flor Contemplacion and Chanda Romero as Delia Maga.

The Flor Contemplacion Case was also featured in an episode of Case Unclosed on GMA Channel 7.[8]

See also

References
  1. Ministry of Information and the Arts, Singapore (1995). Flor Contemplacion: The Facts of the Case. Singapore: Ministry of Information and the Arts, Singapore. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. Tupas, Jefry (24 March 2013). "The Lessons Singapore Learned From Flor Contemplacion". Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. Shenon, Philip (1995-03-19). "Ramos Calls the Filipino Maid Executed in Singapore a Heroine". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  4. Shenon, Philip. "Outcry Mounts In Philippines Over Hanging". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  5. Dancel, Raul. "Spokesman for Rodrigo Duterte says remarks on burning Singapore flag made 'jokingly'". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. Bacungan, VJ (2018-02-17). "Hazards of overseas employment: OFW cases that made headlines". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 2018-07-30.
  7. "Maid in Manila: Films' results vary". variety.com. July 10, 1995.
  8. "Case Unclosed kasama si Arnold Clavio". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2020-03-09.

Further reading
  • Regional Briefing Philippines: Death Threat (March 23, 1995). Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 13.
  • Rose-Coloured Glasses (March 30, 1995). Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 12.
  • Manila Justice: Executed Filipina Hailed as Hero (March 30, 1995). Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 5.
  • Regional Briefing Philippines: Autopsy Conflict (April 13, 1995). Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 13.
  • Regional Briefing Philippines: Singapore Reopens Case (April 20, 1995). Far Eastern Economic Review, p. 13.
  • The Fight For Flor (March 24, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 27.
  • The Furor Over Flor (March 31, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 36.
  • Beyond the Rage: Lessons from the Case of Flor Contemplacion (April 7, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 17.
  • The Fallout From Flor: A President's Political Worries Over a Hanged Maid (April 7, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 30.
  • Savage Blows (April 14, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 33.
  • More Fallout From Flor (April 28, 1995). Asiaweek, p. 34.
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