Ronaldo Z. Concha Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation to the government of Saudi Arabia, especially to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, for saving a Filipino on death row by helping pay the blood money to his victim's heirs. Rodelio Celestino Lanuza was convicted of killing Mohammad Bin Said Al-Qahtani and sentenced to death in 2002. Lanuza, a 39-year-old draftsman, went to work in Saudi Arabia in 1995. He was sentenced to death after he admitted stabbing his victim to death in 2000. He will soon be a free man again after the Saudi government paid SR23,00,000 to the heirs of the victim as the remainder of a SR30,00,000 blood money sought by the family for waiving their right to find him executed. In an overseas telephone interview, the Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said he was very happy when informed of the good news. Seguis said the gesture of the Kingdom clearly shows Saudis value life. “I am very happy and all I can say is thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” the undersecretary said. The mother of the pardoned Filipino had appealed to the Saudi government for financial assistance pay the blood money after concerned organizations and individuals within and outside the Kingdom were only able to raise SR700,000. The Saudi Embassy in Manila in a statement confirmed the issuance of a royal directive for paying the remainder. Under the Saudi legal system, acceptance of blood money leads to the signing of a waiver by the victim's family signifying forgiveness. The Saudi Embassy said the good will gesture is the result of collective efforts, including the coordination and cooperation between the Saudi Embassy in Manila and the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines Jejomar C. Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on OFW affairs. Seguis also thanked all parties involved from the Philippine and the Saudi sides who helped in securing the release of Lanuza.
