Slain Saudi’s family to sign blood money agreement to free Filipino

The family of a Saudi national slain by a Filipino worker now on death row is expected to sign a settlement agreement to accept blood money that will free the condemned man.
Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza, who was sentenced to death in 2001 for the slaying of a Saudi man is awaiting the signature of a member of the victim’s family on a printed copy of the judgment in Saudi Appellate Court, according to Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, in a statement released on Friday.
Binay issued the statement following a report from Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin Tago, who said the Saudi Reconciliation Committee has notified the victim’s family to send a representative to sign the printed copy of the judgment.
The judgment has an updated notation that the victim’s family accepted the blood money and will no longer seek qasas, or beheading.
Lanuza was pardoned after the Philippine government, private donors and nongovernmental organizations raised SR 700,000 for the blood money. King Abdullah donated SR 2.3 million.
Binay said the release process has to be completed before Lanuza can be released as he asked the jailed OFW’s family for more patience.
“I understand how Dondon and his family feel,” Binay said. “I am asking for patience. There is a process that we need to follow. The embassy has been consistently following up his papers but we need to respect their process.”