VP Binay: Pinoy jailed for 13 years in Saudi one step closer to freedom

After languishing behind bars for some 13 years, overseas Filipino worker Rodelio "Dondon" Lanuza is one step closer to securing his freedom, Vice President Jejomar Binay said Wednesday.
 
Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers' concerns, said Wednesday the Saudi Royal Court in Dammam had confirmed the family of a Saudi national who Lanuza killed had issued a tanazul or affidavit of forgiveness.
 
"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 on his Facebook page.
 
Lanuza was sentenced to death for killing a Saudi national in 2000.
 
However, Binay declined to speculate when Lanuza would be repatriated.
 
“I do not 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 said Philippine embassy case officer Jerome Friaz received last May 22 a call from Lanuza where Lanuza said he got a text message about the tanazul.
 
With this development, he said it would now be up to the Dammam court to issue a release order for Lanuza.
 
Binay thanked Saudi King Abdullah for his generosity in agreeing to shoulder the balance of the blood money for Lanuza.
 
The Saudi king had 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 diligently following up Lanuza’s case.
 
“I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who has helped save Dondon Lanuza’s life. May your passion to serve our kababayans never waver,” Binay said.

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