OFW on Saudi death row nears freedom

MANILA, Philippines - An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who has been on Saudi Arabia’s death row for the past 13 years is a step closer to freedom after the family of a Saudi national he killed issued an affidavit of forgiveness, Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday.

The Saudi Royal Court (SRC) in Dammam has confirmed that the victim’s family has issued a “tanazul” in favor of Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza, said Binay, presidential adviser on OFW concerns.

He said that on May 22, case officer Jerome Friaz of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh received a call from Lanuza.

“Dondon said he got a text from Sheikh Ahmad Al Othaimen, head of the SRC in Dammam, stating that the family of the victim had already issued the tanazul. Philippine embassy officials in Riyadh were able to confirm the settlement of the blood money and the issuance of the tanazul with Sheikh Ahmad Al Othaimen himself,” Binay said.

Binay said it would now be up to the Dammam court to issue the release order for Lanuza.

In an interview at the sidelines of the 10th Annual Conference of the Philippine Association of Local Government Accountants in Tagaytay City, Binay declined to say when Lanuza would be repatriated.

“I do no want to speculate as there is a process to be followed. But what I am sure is that Dondon will no longer be executed,” Binay said.

Binay again thanked Saudi King Abdullah for his generosity in agreeing to shoulder the balance of the blood money for Lanuza. The Saudi king shouldered P25 million of the P32 million blood money demanded by the victim’s family.

He also lauded Philippine embassy officials, headed by Ambassador Ezzedin Tago, for their diligence in following up Lanuza’s case.