Pinoy on Saudi death row may soon be free as victim's family waives legal rights


A Filipino languishing on death row in Saudi Arabia since 2000 may be one step closer to freedom after the family of a Saudi national he killed waived all future legal rights against him, a Saudi news site reported Thursday.
 
Rodelio Celestino “Dondon” Lanuza was informed of this via a text message from a government official Wednesday afternoon, Arab News reported.
 
“Peace and mercy upon you, a waiver has been signed by the family for Isa,” Arab News quoted the text message as saying. Lanuza's Muslim name is Isa.
 
However, the Arab News report did not name the official who sent the text message indicating the victim's family had issued a tanazul, or legal waiver.
 
A tanazul effectively waives any further court action against Lanuza, and only a final release order from the Dammam governorate will ensure his freedom.
 
Lanuza, who is being held in Dammam Prison in the Eastern Province, may walk free as early as within a month, the report said.
 
Earlier, the blood money of SR3 million—including SR2.3 million shouldered by the Saudi government—had already been paid to the victim's family.
 
Execution abolished
 
The Arab News report quoted a source in contact with the government official as saying that "if you secure a waiver from the immediate family, the execution is abolished.”
 
“Now that we have the waiver, we have to take this to the governorate’s office (amarah) to finalize his release. That may take less than one month,” the news site's source added.
 
For his part, Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago said they still have to "verify the news with authorities.”
 
High court hearing no longer needed
 
The report also said the waiver from the victim's family effectively nullified the need for a hearing at the Dammam High court before Lanuza could be released.
 
Lanuza had been pardoned by the victim’s family almost three years ago. —KG, GMA News
 

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