Ronaldo Z. Concha Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – A Filipino worker sentenced to death for killing a fellow compatriot in 2008 was finally set free and returned home to his family in Manila last Friday, Philippine Consulate Consul General Uriel Norman Garibay said on Saturday. Garibay said Rogelio Moniawas released from prison and brought to the deportation area a few weeks ago before leaving for Manila last Thursday. He also said that Moniawas met by the representative from the office of the undersecretary for migrant workers affairs (OUMWA). In a separate interview with Vice Consul Jim Minglana, head of the Assistance to National Section of the consulate, Garibay said Monia who hails from Caloocan City in Manila was sentenced to death in 2010 for stabbing and killing Marlon Delizo in January of 2008 in Yanbu, an industrial area about 314 kilometers northwest of Jeddah. Minglana said the family of the victim, who is a native of Nueva Vizcaya, forgives Monia after the verdict was issued because of the concerted effort exerted in the negotiations by the representative of OUMWA and the Philippine Consulate, which were monitoring the case. They were constantly reporting the developments in Manila. The bloody money of SR80,000 was demanded by the heirs of the victim. Minglana said a kind hearted Saudi philanthropist offered to pay the blood money after learning of Monia's reversion to Islam. During his stay in prison, Monia also displayed good behavior with everyone. Minglana said the blood money donated in Feb. last year was released in Oct. and sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs after completing all the documentations after which, Monia was released. Garibay thanked the Saudi authorities and the anonymous philanthropist who paid the compensation.
