ANGELES CITY – With only about P430,000 raised from sympathizers out of the P35 million “blood money” needed to save her son from beheading in Saudi Arabia, Letty Lanuza has bared a commitment from “a group of Filipino businessmen” to add US$10 to every US$10 donation received from other supporters.
“This is a mother’s appeal for your compassion to help her win her son’s life and his freedom,” Mrs. Lanuza, mother of death convict Rodelio “Dondon” Lanuza, said in an email to Punto.
Appealing for more financial help to raise enough blood money, she said: “Please believe me when I say that the death of a Saudi Arabian national caused by my son was accidental.”
Her son was convicted of killing a Saudi Arabian national in 2000, but he insisted it was a self-defense case which has become viral on Facebook with scores of sympathizing Filipinos echoing the need to help Lanuza.
“Since 2000, my tears have flowed and my heart has been broken but my prayers to God are unceasing. God answered my prayers when in February of this year, due to the work of the Embassy of the Philippines and other Members of the (Saudi Arabian) Reconciliation Committee, the aggrieved family agreed to forgive my son Dondon,” she said.
“However, as is the custom in Saudi Arabia, in exchange for Dondon’s life and freedom, they demand blood money,” she explained.
The family demanded approximately P35 million.
After the demand for blood money was made and with no assurance financial help from the Philippine government, Rodelio and his supporters launched “Barya Mo, Buhay Ko” fund drive, largely via the social network Facebook.
Mrs. Lanuza said that donations so far have amounted to only about US10,000 but noted that “a group of Filipino business people have given a challenge grant to match your donation dollar for dollar.”
“If you give $10, they would give $10 too so that your $10 is really $20 for my Dondon,” she said.
Mrs. Lanuza said “we do not have the luxury of time”, adding that “by February 2012, it would be one year since they forgave and required the blood money equivalent.”
“If by that time, we have very little to show to them, it may mean the withdrawal of their forgiveness and hasten the death of Dondon,” she said.
She said donors could reach her via her telephone numbers + 17024819245 or +17022207206 or her email letty@lbcusa.net or her son’s email donlanuza@gmail.com
Lanuza has been in jail in Dammam, Saudi Arabia for 11 years now. Earlier, the Arab News reported that the Saudi Reconciliation Committee (SRC) had announced that Lanuza could be saved from execution if blood money was paid to the family of his victim.
The SRC, whose executive chairman is Dr. Nasser Bin Mesfir Al- Zahrani, is credited with saving the lives of 173 people sentenced to death since its inception in 2008. Its mission is to prevent haggling by the families of the murder victims over blood money or “diya.”
Pardoning or forgiving a murderer is permissible in the Shariah, for the sake of Allah, or through the payment of “diya.” In the case of Lanuza, the eldest child of the aggrieved family determined the amount of “diya” with the other option to otherwise have Lanuza beheaded.
