Presss Release
FIL-AM LEADER THANKS PHILIPPINE, SAUDI GOVERNMENTS, FILIPINOS FOR RELEASE OF FILIPINO WORKER IN SAUDI
Emailed for posting by Dr. Celia B. Lamkin
Chairperson, US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) Marianas Chapter
February 7, 2013
NEW YORK (USP4GG) Filipino-American businesswoman Loida Nicolas Lewis, the national chairperson of US Pinoys for Good Governance, expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Philippine and Saudi Arabian governments and to the thousands of Filipinos and others who made monetary contributions that helped secure the freedom of Filipino worker Rodelio Dondon Lanuza after 12 years of imprisonment in Saudi Arabia.
In this photo taken in New York City on December 3, 2011, Loida Nicolas and Letty Celestino Lanuza call on all Filipinos to help Dondon Lanuza.(photo by Troi Santos)
Lewis singled out Philippine President Benigno Aquino Jr., Vice President Jejomar Binay, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, major donors Manuel V. Pangilinan, Judy Araneta Roxas, Tessie Sy Coson, JJ and Minette Soriano, Quintin and Linnette San Diego, Virginia Co and Manny Tordesillas for their assistance.
Lewis also thanked Saudi Arabia King Abdullah and the royal family for their contribution in providing additional funding toward the freedom of Lanuza.
Lanuza is expected to walk out of prison a free man this year. Originally on death row, Lanuza was forgiven two years ago by the family of the deceased and given a chance at freedom on the condition that he pay the family 3 million riyals, which is approximately 35 million pesos or $800,000. The fundraising campaign picked up steam when Lewis joined the cause in Dec. 2011, and together with Lanuzas mother Letty, she conducted a press conference in New York alerting the public to the plight of the now 37-year-old native of Quezon City, Metro Manila. Lewis formed a committee to save Lanuza.
Members of the Ad Hoc committee for Dondon Lanuza formed in February 2012
Lewis lobbied the Philippine government to donate their maximum blood money allocation of $100,000, which private Filipino citizens from all over the world matched.
In addition, Lewis thanked diplomats Ambassador Ezzedine Tago, Ambassador Antonio Villamor and Undersecretary Rafael Seguis as well as Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Al-Hassan fortheir help.