MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 1, 2013) – A Filipino migrants’ welfare group Migrante Middle East rejoiced in reports that an overseas Filipino worker Rogelio Lanuza jailed in Saudi Arabia will soon be freed.
It said the Saudi government shouldered the payment of 2.3 million Riyals which Lanuza and his family can use to pay to the kin of the Saudi national he accidentally killed in 2000.
For more than 12 long years, Migrante spearheaded a campaign along with various OFWs organizations in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East dubbed as “Save OFWs on Death Row” with Lanuza being one of our priority cases.
John Leonard Monterona, Migrante’s regional coordinator, said their group and allied organizations had campaigned hard to save the life of Lanuza and others like him doomed in Saudi jails.
“We salute our fellow OFW Dondon Lanuza for his determination as he repent long time ago on what he had done. On behalf of Dondon and his family, relatives and friends, we would like to convey our sincerest appreciation to the Saudi government under the leadership of his Highness King Abdullah, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” he said.
“To those who have contributed to Save Dondon Lanuza fund raising campaign and to our fellow OFWs who have been with us in our Save OFWs on Death Row campaign, we thank you all. This victory is ours,” he added.
Monterona said they will continue to appeal to Saudi to spare the lives of other Filipinos on death row. He said there are still 6 Filipinos on death row.
“Our Save OFWs on Death Row campaign will not end upon Dondon Lanuza’s eventual release. We will intensify our efforts until no OFWs are on death row in Saudi Arabia. Like most OFWs, they too were victims of forced migration,” he said.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Aquino government expressed gratitude to the Saudi Government for the humanitarian gesture, which paves the way for the issuance of an affidavit of forgiveness (tanazul) in Lanuza’s favor.
“This positive development is a result of the tireless effort and steadfast commitment of Filipinos working together. We hope that as soon as all legal procedures are completed, Mr. Lanuza will finally be reunited with his family,” he said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
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