After spending 13 years in prison and upon payment of blood money, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), Rogelio “Dondon” Lanuza is finally coming home to his family. The release or deportation order was signed by the Prince and Governor of Al Khobar SaudiArabia, Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud as confirmed by the Philippine Ambassador in Riyadh, Ezzedin Tago. Lanuza is just waiting for the release of his exit visa and for his return ticket to the Philippines.

Lanuza was imprisoned in year 2000 for killing a Saudi citizen. In 2001, he was sentenced to death via beheading.

The deportation of Lanuza is made possible when the family of the victim signed the tanazul or letter of forgiveness after receiving SAR3 million as blood money.

Huge part of the blood money was courtesy of the Royal Highness King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud who agreed to shoulder the SAR 2.3 million. This is because the Philippine Government and supporters of Lanuza only raised SAR 700,000.