After 13 years of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia, Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza is now home, said Vice President and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) Concerns Jejomar C. Binay.
Lanuza arrived from Dammam at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 19.
Lanuza was sentenced to death in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The Vice President reiterated his thanks to the government of Saudi Arabia, especially to King Abdullah, for shouldering SAR 2.3 million of Lanuza’s blood money.
“This is a rare instance where the king of Saudi Arabia contributed millions of pesos to save someone’s life,” Binay said.
The Kingdom’s highest court meted Lanuza the death sentence in 2001 for killing a Saudi national in year 2000. “It was in self-defense after I allegedly attempted to rape him”, said Lanuza.
He was pardoned after the victim’s family received, as they demanded, SAR 3 million or almost P35 million in blood money.
The Philippine government and supporters of Lanuza raised the equivalent of SAR 700,000. King Abdullah paid the remaining amount.
The Vice President commended Ambassador Ezzed in Tago and the staff of the Philippine Embassy-Riyadh for their role in helping secure Lanuza’s freedom.
Lanuza went straight to his home in Sampaloc, Manila where he was warmly welcomed by his parents, relatives, friends and neighbors after spending more time abroad. Lanuza found his Holy Grail upon his arrival home last Thursday, Sept. 19. /MP
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