Saudi- Former death row Filipino flies home

(MENAFN- Arab News) Rodelio "Dondon" Lanuza, the Filipino who spent 13 years on death row in a Dammam jail for killing a Saudi national, left the Kingdom last night and is scheduled to arrive in Manila this afternoon. Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago said Lanuza was booked on a late night flight and had sent him a "text message extending his thanks to the Philippine government and the embassy" for helping to free him. The Filipino envoy told Arab News that he did not know what Lanuza plans to do once he is back home. Lanuza had also sent a text message to Arab News thanking the newspaper and its staff for reporting on his case. He also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for helping him. Lanuza's departure was expected. The Philippine-based ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) earlier reported that he would leave the Kingdom after the Saudi passport department approved his exit visa. In Manila, Vice President Jejomar Binay, also the presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers' Concerns, announced that Lanuza was on his way home. "I would like to announce that ... our compatriot, Dondon Lanuza, who had been jailed a long time and who was sentenced to death in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is on his way home," Binay said in an interview on the sidelines of the Regional Scouts Summit in Leyte. Lanuza's family has spruced up his room in their home in Sampaloc, Manila, while his friends are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in the Kingdom have expressed happiness at his release. "At last, he's rejoining his family. Although he suffered much emotionally, there were also blessings that came his way and good memories for him to look back on," said Mary Jane Tupas, president of the Philippine Nurses Association in the Eastern Province and director of nursing at the Mohammad Dossary Hospital in Al-Khobar. Dondon had earlier acknowledged the good treatment accorded him by jail authorities. "He had also struck up friendships while in jail," said Floserfino F. Famarin of Al-Ahsa, an officer at the Al-Ahsa Sports Association. He called for help from his US-based parents and used social media, posting his photo and messages of appeal. People from all walks of life responded. King Abdullah added SR2.3 million to the SR700,000 raised by the Philippine government and other supporters. The family of the victim had asked for SR3 million in blood money. Lanuza pursued his media campaign for the money to be deposited and for his release from jail.