Facebook account set up for OFW on KSA death row

MANILA, Philippines - A Facebook group account has been set up to raise funds for the release of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Facebook group “'Help Save a Life" was reportedly set up for OFW Rodelio “Dondon" Lanuza, who has been languishing at a prison center in the eastern city of Dammam since August 2000. On June 10, 2002, Lanuza was sentenced to death by beheading by the Damman Grand Court for killing an Arab national. Since then, he has been asking the public, media, and government officials for financial assistance for his two children, whom he said he can no longer support because of his situation. “My resources have all turned their backs on me, even my family, closest and considered friends who have helped me for the last seven years. They cannot be blamed for they also have their own families to support, of course. I decided to appeal to you as a brother to facilitate my needs and, at the same time, to finance some of my family's personal needs," he said in a circulating e-mail in 2008. Lanuza’s wife, Meribeth, is also in Saudi Arabia working as a nurse. However, she only has a small salary, disabling her from supporting their whole family. This time, however, the appeal for help was intended for Lanuza himself. According to the account profile, for every member who joins the group, an OFW will donate two pesos to help Lanuza. “Joining this group will not cost you a single centavo but may mean everything for Dondon and many other fellow Filipinos now languishing in jail and awaiting execution," it said. The facebook account is an open group and may be accessed at this link. - GMANews.TV