OFW home after 13 years in Saudi prison

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino worker Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza arrived in the country yesterday after 13 years in a Saudi prison.

He was met by his parents, Eddie and Letty, upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. They were accompanied by Omar Pangarungan of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“God knows I did nothing wrong. I am thankful I came home alive,” Lanuza said, adding that he killed Mohamed bin Said Al-Qathani in self-defense in 2000 “because he wanted to rape me.”

Lanuza, 35, went to Saudi Arabia to work as a draftsman when he was 22. He said even after being sentenced to death, he felt “confident that I will never be beheaded because my conscience told me.”

His parents are beside themselves with joy, saying they “cannot believe Rodel is sitting beside us. We cannot fully express our happiness, just embracing our son.”

Lanuza said he converted to Islam while in prison. He added that after two years in detention, he obtained a cell phone from his fellow prisoners. “I used to text every one I know, and other whom I didn’t know, just to let out my sadness,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to the government of Saudi Arabia, especially to King Abdullah, for shouldering 2.3 million riyal of the blood money demanded by his victim’s family. The Philippine government and Lanuza’s supporters raised the equivalent of 700,000 riyal.