A Filipino on death row in Saudi Arabia has appealed to President Arroyo for her intercession in his case when she visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia next week, the non-government organization Blas F. Ople Policy Center said Sunday.

Speaking at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan news forum held in Sampaloc, Manila, Susan Ople, president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, said Rodelio “Dondon” Celestino Lanuza, who was sentenced to beheading for killing an Arab national, is appealing to Mrs. Arroyo to help him in his case.

She said the Center, an NGO committed to helping distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), would officially transmit Lanuza’s message to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Office of the President.

Through a message sent to Ople through the Facebook social network website, Lanuza issued this appeal:

“Dear Madame President,

Ako po ay walang sawang manawagan at umapila sa inyo para po sa aking kalayaan. Magsa-sampung taon na po akong nakapiit sa kulungan ng Damman, KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) at nahatulan na po ng parusang kamatayan. Ako po ay nakiki-usap at nagmamakaawa sa inyo ng bigyang pansin po ang aking apila. Napakahirap po ng aking kalagayan at pamilyado po ako na may 2 anak. Parang awa na po tulungan niyo po ako. God bless.

Umaasa po sa iyong tulong at gumagalang, Rodelio Don2 Lanuza, OFW sa Deathrow.

“We are hoping that Dondon’s appeal will reach the President and that his case as well as those of the other detained OFWs shall be included in bilateral talks between the two heads of state,” Ople said in a statement released during the news forum.

Lanunza has been languishing at the Damman Central Jail since Aug. 15, 2000 for killing an Arab national. He claimed that it was act of self-defense.

The Center also urged the Philippine government to designate a legal attaché to attend to the cases of Filipinos languishing in different jails in Saudi Arabia.

The DFA issued a press release regarding the President’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 21-23, upon the invitation of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

The President will discus with King Abdullah the further strengthening of bilateral relations, including closer economic cooperation, as well as the Philippines’ bid for observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the welfare of the biggest concentration of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

Pardons for those in jail are often granted during the holy month of Ramadan.

The President will grace the official inauguration of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia on Sept. 23. The inauguration is highly significant as it will coincide with the celebration of the Saudi National Day and the Eid El-Fitr, marking the end of holy month of Ramadan.