Manila: A Filipino draftsman earlier condemned to death for killing a Saudi Arabian national is expected to arrive in the Philippines on Thursday after spending 13 years in jail in Dammam.
Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza, 38, will land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila’s suburb of Pasay City to the welcoming arms of by his family at the end of more than a decade-long imprisonment that saw a number of people working for his release from the death row and eventual freedom.
“After 13 years of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia, Rodelio Lanuza is now on his way home,” said a statement released by the office of Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) Concerns Jejomar Binay on Wednesday.
Binay reiterated his gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia, especially to King Abdullah, for bearing SR 2.3 million of the total SAR 3 million or an equivalent P35 million for Lanuza’s blood money.
Lanuza is from Manila’s Sampaloc district.
“This is a rare instance where the king of Saudi Arabia contributed millions of pesos to save someone’s life,” Binay said.
In 2001, Saudi Arabia’s highest court sentenced Lanuza to die by execution for killing a Saudi national in 2000. The Filipino claimed that he had acted in self-defence after the latter tried to rape him.
Lanuza was pardoned by the family of his victim in 2011. The Philippine government, with the help King Abdullah and several private donors, were able to raise the SR 3 million (Dhs2,938,004.28) blood money.
“We would like to again extend our thanks to the king of Saudi Arabia, to private groups, and to our Embassy for their effort,” Binay said.
Binay cited Philippines Ambassador to Riyadh Ezzedin Tago and his staff for their role in helping secure Lanuza’s freedom.
Lanuza’s was among the most well known cases involving a Filipino worker in Saudi Arabia and was the subject of an Internet campaign by his supporters.
Source: Gulf News, Sept. 18, 2013
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