KUWAIT CITY - The long wait is over for the longest serving Filipino inmate.

Joseph Urbiztondo will be going home to the Philippines soon after getting an Amiri pardon, confirmed Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro O. Villa, who visited Urbiztondo on Tuesday at the ‘Talha’ or Kuwait Deportation Center.

Urbiztondo has been in the Kuwait Central Jail for 20 years now after being sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a Bangladeshi national.

"Pinapatawad na siya at pwede na siyang makauwi dahil nasumite na natin ang tanazul o letter of forgiveness from the family of the victim [He has been forgiven and now he can come home after we've submitted the letter of forgiveness from the victim's family]," said Villa.

Villa said Urbiztondo is elated because he will soon be set free.

"Talagang tuwang-tuwa siya, nag-uumapaw sa tuwa dahil pagkaraan ng beinte anyos, makakalaya na siya," added Villa.

Urbiztondo was transferred from the Kuwait Central Jail to the Kuwait Deportation Centre on Monday. His release came after paying dia (blood money) and securing a tanazul (letter of forgiveness) from the son of the victim in Dhaka, Bangladesh in September last year and eventually, an Amiri pardon was granted to him.

"Ayon doon sa Colonel na nakausap namin na namamahala nong detention ay kinakailangan lamang na maisyuhan siya natin ng travel document at maayos natin iyong ticket dahil kung hihintayin pa natin ang ticket mula sa Ministry of Interior mas magiging matagal kaya aking pakikiusapan ang DFA na tayo lamang, ang gobyerno na lang natin ang mag provide ng ticket at aking pasasamahin si Consul General Raul Dado sa pag-uwi ni Joseph," stated Villa.

He thanked the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for granting pardon to Urbiztondo.

Urbiztondo, 45, a native of Bacoor, Cavite in the Philippines was arrested by authorities on July 6, 1996 for killing a Bangladeshi national. He was later sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

NEW LIFE

He extended his sincerest gratitude to the Amir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his kindness and compassion.

"Natutuwa ako sa galak na makakalaya na po ako. Sana makauwi na ako nang maaga makapiling ko pamilya ko. Pag uwi ko sa Pilipinas gusto ko pong makita ang pamilya ko dahil sa dalawampung taon nami-miss ko sila," he said.

Urbiztondo said apart from missing his family, he also would like to play tennis again.

"Matagal ko silang hindi nakita at sabik na sabik din sila na makita ako. Nami miss ko lang po…Gusto ko lang po ibalik po uli ang pag-te-tennis, pagtuturo sa mga bata sa tennis yan..mamasyal lang doon sa BF Resort ganun lang po," he told the Middle East Bureau in a phone interview.

"Plano ko ay panibagong buhay para sa pamilya. Masayang-masaya na nakalaya na po," added Urbiztondo, who was was crying on the phone as he thanked everyone who helped and prayed for him.

It was in 2009 when Urbiztondo first called up ABS-CBN Middle East Bureau from the Kuwait Central Jail asking for help on his case. His story was aired first on Balitang Middle East and the Bureau has followed up on his case to date.

"Pasensya na napapaiyak ako. Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Evangelical Church, sa Catholic Church, Kay Bishop Ballin, Kay Fr. Ben. Sa paglaya ko. Pagod na po ako sa dalawampung taon Nagpapasalamat din po ako sa Philippine embassy ng Kuwait. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Ambassador Renato Villa at saka kay Consul General Raul Dado, Ambassador Roy Seneres, Roy Seneres Jr. at saka kay Oliver Diong at Dr. Chie Umandap at Dennis dito sa Talha, at sa mga nakaligtaan ko pong banggitin, maraming salamat po, alay ko po dasal sa inyo," stated Urbiztondo.

He also thanked Philippine Consul General to Bangladesh Pendosina Lomondot, Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy and other NGOs and advocacy groups and government officials in Bangladesh for helping find the victim’s next of kin in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Urbiztondo’s girlfriend, Edna Tacapan, who he met online also went with Ambassador Villa to see Urbiztondo at the deportation center.

"Iyon bang hindi mo maintindihan, kumbaga excited lang, at least ang sa akin kasi pasalamat talaga na nakalabas siya, nakita ko siya, okay naman, wala namang problema," beamed Tacapan who plans to join Urbiztondo soon in the Philippines after she is done with her contract in Kuwait.

They plan to get married and start a new life.

In the past, Urbiztondo wrote letters to the Philippine government and some government officials asking for help for his blood money but nothing happened. It was in August 2012 with the initiative of former Philippine Labor Attache to Kuwait David Des Dicang who gathered leaders of various Filipino organizations and launched the fund drive “Barya mo, Laya ko” (Your coin for my freedom) to help raise the blood money for Urbiztondo.

The blood money amounting to KD6,000 was collected by various Filipino organizations, the Roman Catholic Church and some individuals in February 2013 but it had remained for safekeeping with some Filipino leaders while the Philippine embassy was trying to locate the victim’s next of kin in Bangladesh.

Last year, with the help of the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh led by Charge d’ Affaires Lomondot, some non-government organizations and the Bangladeshi government, they were able to find the victim’s son. This paved the way to the negotiation of the tanazul and the son demanded US$26,000 for the blood money. Short of $6,000, Philippine Consul General to Kuwait Dado was able to raise the additional amount with the help of some anonymous donors to complete the blood money.

The ceremonial turnover of the blood money was held at the Philippine embassy in Faiha in the presence of Ambassador Villa in July 2015. The blood money was transmitted to Dhaka, and the victim’s son signed the tanazul on September 16, 2015 at the Kuwait embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Urbiztondo is expected to fly home to the Philippines next week as soon as his travel document is done and the Philippine embassy hands him the air ticket for Manila.