OFW’s online pleas turn to joy as he is spared from death



By 
7:23 pm | Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
 3 378 338
Rodelio Celestino Lanuza
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines—Overseas Filipino worker Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza is profuse with gratitude after being spared from the death row through the mercy of the king of Saudi Arabia.
His two Facebook pages, which served as platforms for endless appeals, fund-raising drives and exchanges of prayers since 2006, now express a happier mood as Lanuza, 38, and the thousands of Filipinos who took their bayanihan online for him greeted his looming freedom with joy.
On Friday night, he posted his first message, written in Filipino: “I am immensely joyful because of a very good news. Vice President Jejomar Binay has announced that I am now safe from the death penalty.”
Lanuza said he was grateful to God “for listening to his sincere prayers,” to the Saudi government and to the family of a Saudi national he killed in self-defense back in 2000.
The family of the victim had pardoned him in February 2011, and had asked for blood money the balance of which reached P24.9 million that King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud offered to pay. Lanuza’s fund-raising bid pooled P7.5 million.
“I am very, very thankful to all the people who have helped me and became part of my freedom campaign. I cannot immediately make a list of names of people I should be thanking and I might forget some. But I know in your heart and mind you know who did not cease helping through prayers and donations for my freedom,” he said.
Lanuza asked for more prayers and support so that his release may come soon. “I hope no more obstacles come the way of the freedom I long wished for,” he said.
“I request you to continue our bayanihan for other OFWs who need help,” Lanuza said, assuring he was going to be part of efforts in helping distressed compatriots.
On HelpDondon.com, he specifically thanked the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, led by Ambassador Ezzedin Tago; the Saudi Reconciliation Committee through Sheikh Ali; United States-based philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis and his parents, Letty and Edilberto; former Ambassadors Antonio Villamor, Roy Seneres, Grace Rebong; Binay; Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario; and Undersecretary Rafael Seguis.
“I owe you my life. May God reward you for your kindness,” he said. He has not shared his plans once he is freed from prison in Dammam. Lanuza worked as a draftsman in Saudi Arabia since 1996.
The same page quoted Lewis informing ABS-CBN Middle East that Lanuza’s freedom was “almost like a miracle.”
In a statement, Binay said the release was a result of a “concerted effort.”
Lanuza said his online freedom campaign via the Facebook page “Help save a life” was begun by Regalado Jose, a Kapampangan OFW working for the car-maker, Hyundai.
The two never met and were connected only through online chats or text messages.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POPCOM, gagamit ng ‘digital platforms’ para pagtibayin ang mga ugnayang pampamilya

Mas pinalalawig ng Komisyon sa Populasyon at Pagpapaunlad (POPCOM) ang adhikain nitong pagpapalaganap at pagpapabuti ng pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga nakakatandang Pilipino sa kanilang mga anak na nagdadalaga at nagbibinata. Nitong Setyembre 21, ang POPCOM ay nagsagawa ng isang “parent-teen talk webinar” gamit ang Zoom, kung saan ang isang “interactive program” ang nagbigay ng naaayon na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga magulang, habang tumulong ito sa mga anak na teenager na maabot ang kanilang buong potensyal. Hinikayat din nito ang mga nanay at tatay na sumali sa malayang usapan, lalo na sa mga usapin ukol sa sex at sekswalidad, na nakikitang makakatulong upang bumaba ang mga bilang ng mga pagbubuntis sa hanay ng mga kabataan. Maaaring mapanood ang webinar sa https://youtu.be/lZ9jrJCjYas. Ayon kay Ikalawang Kalihim (Undersecretary) Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH, “ang webinar ay naging isang tagapag-simula at ‘padaluyan’ ng pag-uu
Read more

Biden said set to make push for demilitarized Palestinian state as part of new doctrine ---By LAZAR BERMAN

New York Times’ Thomas Friedman, who’s close to the US administration, says emerging doctrine would include Saudi-Israeli normalization, 2-state solution, and campaign against Iran US President Joe Biden’s administration is homing in on a new doctrine involving an unprecedented push to immediately advance the creation of a demilitarized but viable Palestinian state, The New York Times’ Thomas Friedman reported on Thursday. The plan, Friedman wrote, “would involve some form of US recognition of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would come into being only once Palestinians had developed a set of defined, credible institutions and security capabilities to ensure that this state was viable and that it could never threaten Israel.” White House officials “have been consulting experts inside and outside the US government about different forms this recognition of Palestinian statehood might take,” revealed Friedman. What he termed the new “Biden Doctrin
Read more

In Cairo, senior Hamas officials discuss hostage deal with Egyptian intelligence chief ---By TOI STAFF, AGENCIES and LAZAR BERMAN

Delegation said led by terror group’s Qatar-based political leader Ismail Haniyeh; Wall Street Journal reports Hamas demanding 150 security prisoners for each female soldier A delegation of senior Hamas officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian officials on a possible deal that would see the release of hostages held by terrorists in Gaza. The delegation was led by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who lives in Qatar, and included senior members Mousa Abu Marzook and Khalil al-Hayya, the Qatar-based Al-Araby news outlet reported, citing an unnamed Egyptian source. The Hamas officials met with the head of Egyptian intelligence, Major General Abbas Kamel, to discuss the details of a hostage deal proposal that was presented to the Gaza terror group earlier this week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The outline of the deal was drawn up during a meeting in Paris last week in the presence of Israeli and US officials, as well as Qatari and Egyptian negotiators, a
Read more