OFW jailed for Arab's death seeks Noy's help

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Rodelio “Dondon” Celestino Lanuza marked his 37th birthday last Oct. 4 at the Damman Central Jail in Saudi Arabia where he has been locked up since August 2000 for the death of an Arab national.

Lanuza, whose two children in Cavite have relied mostly on donations for their schooling since he was jailed, reiterated his appeal to President Aquino in whose term he could be beheaded.

Under Muslim laws, the final verdict on Lanuza’s death penalty would depend on the decision of the eldest child of the Arab victim when the latter turns 18 less than four years from now.

Lanuza informed The STAR through e-mail that only recently, other Filipinos had been beheaded after waiting for as long as 17 years for the children of their victims to turn 18 but eventually refused them pardon.

Lanuza initially claimed self-defense in the murder case, but has since admitted his fate. He is hoping though that the Philippine government would negotiate with the Saudi government so that the Saudi Court of Cassation, which is equivalent to the Philippine Supreme Court, would overturn the lower courts’ previous rulings or convince the victim’s relatives to forgive and grant him pardon.

Lanuza said his case has remained under appeal before the Court of Cassation.

Lanuza’s wife, Meribeth, is also in Saudi Arabia working as a nurse. However, her small salary has been insufficient to fund the schooling of their two children.

Lanuza’s sympathizers have put up a Facebook group account called “Help Save a Life” to lobby for his pardon and raise funds for his children.