Death row Filipino pleads for release

Amid the move to correct the labor status of thousands of expatriates, including more than 10,000 Filipinos, the fate of death row prisoners has been overlooked.
One case involves Rodelio Celestino “Dondon” Lanuza, who has been sitting in Dammam Prison for almost 13 years.
On Jan. 31 , the Saudi Embassy in Manila announced that the Saudi government was paying SR 2.3 million, the balance of a total of SR 3 million in blood money required to have him released from prison. The rest of the money had been raised by well-wishers and fellow compatriots.
However, Lanuza has still not been released because of a delay involving the Dammam High Court.
Arab News obtained a letter written by Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago earlier this month stating that on April 14 the embassy went to the Saudi Reconciliation Committee (SRC) to inquire about the scheduled court hearing needed to settle Lanuza’s case. The SRC replied that court hearing had not been scheduled.
On April 21 and 30, the embassy followed up again with the SRC’s Sheikh Ali bin Ali about the court hearing. The response was the same: the SRC was still waiting for a notice from the Dammam High Court regarding a date for the hearing.
The embassy will send another diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a letter to the governor’s office to request an early hearing.
Yesterday, Arab News received a text from Lanuza seeking an update on his case. He also sent the text of his message to the Philippine Embassy expressing his thanks for the update above.
“In my stay here, every single minute and every hour is agonizing,” Lanuza said in his recent plea, a copy of which was sent to Arab News.
He said that it has been almost three years since he was offered forgiveness by the aggrieved Saudi family and four months since Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah offered to pay the balance of the blood money.
He reiterated that he was not complaining. “Please understand that I am not complaining, I am just pleading with you as a human being, it has been so long since I have been away from home and my family,” he said.
“I would like to request your good office if you could make another follow-up on my case with the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I know that you may see me as impatient, but please understand that I have been here for almost 13 years and I have missed out on so much in my life.
“I plead with you to treat this case as if I am your brother or your son. I understand that you handle many cases and issues, but my case has been ongoing for a long time. I know that we are just waiting for the court schedule, but if you could please follow up. I am the only one on death row whose case has lasted this long,” he added.
“I humbly plead with all of you to kindly give your full attention to my case and see it through until I am finally home. Thank you so much and I am hoping and praying for your understanding and your favorable response,” he said.
There are at least five Filipinos on death row besides Lanuza. They are Joselito Zapanta, Edison Gonzales, Roland Gonzales and Eduardo Arcilla.