Fil-Ams raising P35M to free OFW on death row in Saudi Arabia

Filipinos in the United States continue to appeal for funds to help obtain the freedom of 37-year-old Rodelio "Dondon" Lanuza, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia, who was sentenced to death for killing a Saudi national.  

US-based Filipino business leader, Atty. Loida Nicolas-Lewis, and a group of Filipino philanthropists lead the group supporting the Lanuza family’s objective of raising a P35-million (US$800,000) “blood money.” Under Arab custom, a prisoner may be set free if the victim’s family agrees to accept blood money in exchange for foregoing the penalties imposed on the convicted person. Lewis told GMA News Online on Tuesday that she has offered to match every donation that will come in, dollar per dollar, to raise the needed fund at the soonest possible time. According to Lewis, Lanuza is grateful to know that people are helping him.   "Dondon is a Filipino, an OFW who just wanted to work and help his family. He does not deserve to die," said Lewis.   As of now, only around $13,670 (P570,000), or 2% of the needed amount has been raised, Lewis said.   She said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)has informed her they would consider the Lanuza family's request to shoulder a small part of the amount.   She added that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also pledged to extend a helping hand. 'Accidental death' The 37-year-old Lanuza, who went to Saudi Arabia in 1996 to work as a draftsman, has been in jail since 2000 for allegedly stabbing an Arab national to death.   Lanuza insisted it was out of self-defense, but was convicted by the Dammam Grand Court two years later with a sentence of death by beheading.   In her letter, Lanuza’s mother said, “Please believe me when I say that the death of a Saudi caused by my son was accidental.”   An appeal was filed in 2002, and last February, the aggrieved Arab family eventually agreed to forgive Lanuza but for "diyya", a tradition of Saudi Arabia to require 'blood money' in compensation to the heirs of a victim. A mother's plea Lanuza’s mother, who resides in Las Vegas, initiated a campaign to raise funds shortly after the aggrieved family forgave the convicted Filipino.   Earlier this month, Mrs. Lanuza faced the Filipino-American press and said in between tears: "Hindi ko po ito kayang mag-isa kaya humihingi po ako ng tulong. Sa inyo pong mga nanay na may mga anak, kayo man po ang lumagay sa katayuan ko, ganun din po siguro ang gagawin niyo, hahanapin ang lahat ng tao, lahat ng pagkakataon, lahat ng oras, lahat ng minuto (matulungan lang ang anak.)"  Lewis describes Mrs. Lanuza as “a woman of prayer, she was not bitter, parang wala siyang kaba na papatayin si Dondon.”   Lewis said Mrs. Lanuza’s faith was a big factor in her decision to help the family.   Sense of justice   Lewis said the verdict on Lanuza goes against her "own sense of justice" as a lawyer.   Lewis claimed that self-defense is legal and that Lanuza "does not deserve to die." Lewis plans to seek help for Lanuza from the Global Filipino Diaspora Council, formed by Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) during its Global Summit Filipinos in Diaspora in Manila last September. Lewis said she intends to call on the millions of OFWs worldwide to send funds to Lanuza’s "Barya mo, Buhay ko" fund. Most of the donations at present have come from Filipinos abroad, Lewis noted.   She said she plans to return to the Philippines once she has raised a significant amount from the global community. The call for help for Lanuza comes at a time when donations are also being appealed for the victims of tropical storm "Sendong" in the Philippines. "We ask that people also help the victims of calamity," Lewis said.   Details on donating to Lanuza’s cause may be found at www.helpdondon.com/donate. - VVP, GMA News