Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar Binay joined the Saudi Arabian nation in mourning the passing of King Abdullah, whom he described as a “great friend of Filipinos.”
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of King Abdullah and send my most sincere condolences to the King’s family .We share in the grief of the entire nation of Saudi Arabia and mourn the loss of a great friend of Filipinos,” Binay said in a statement on Friday.
Binay said King Abdullah’s kindness and compassion was “extraordinary.”
“He was the first Saudi King who contributed blood money to save the life of an overseas Filipino worker,” the Vice President said.
In 2013, King Abdullah gave 2.3 million Saudi Riyals to spare Rodelio Celestino “Dondon” Lanuza from the death penalty, Binay said.
“He also generously extended more than once the deadline for foreign workers to correct their residency or work status to legalize their stay in the Kingdom,” he said.
“As Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, I will always be grateful for King Abdullah’s merciful heart,” Binay added.
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