Chinese supreme court upholds death sentence for 3 Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking

Chinese mobile execution unit
training for lethal injections

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government said Tuesday that China had upheld death sentences for three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking, and the mother of one of them appealed to the president to help her "victimized" daughter.

The foreign affairs department said it received information on Friday that the Supreme People's Court in Beijing had reviewed and rendered its decision on five cases of Filipinos sentenced to death by courts in Fujian and Guandong provinces. The court gave two-year reprieves for two of the Filipinos — such reprieves are usually commuted to life in prison — but upheld the death sentences by lethal injection for the three others.

The department said it was disappointed and saddened by the decision and continued to seek lesser sentences for the two women aged 32 and 38 and a 42-year-old man.

Edith Ordinario, the mother of one of the convicted women — 32-year-old Sally Ordinario-Villanueva — tearfully appealed on ABS-CBN television to President Benigno Aquino Jr. to "help my daughter who was just victimized by a drug syndicate."

Villanueva, a mother of two, was convicted of smuggling more than four kilograms of heroin to Xiamen on Dec. 24, 2008.

Ordinario said her daughter went to China thinking she had got a job as a cellphone dealer, and was given a bag by her recruiter in the Philippines to give to the boss when she arrived there. The bag turned out to have drugs hidden inside, she added.

She said the foreign affairs department had told her that her daughter was scheduled to be executed on Monday.

"As ordered by our president, our engagement with the Chinese authorities continues," said Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos on television.

Smuggling at least 50 grams of heroin or other drugs is punishable by death in China. The Philippines has no death penalty.

Under Chinese law, a death verdict may be commuted to life imprisonment if the prisoner displays good behaviour in jail.

The foreign affairs department warned citizens against carrying luggage for strangers and agreeing to carry items for individuals befriended through the Internet.

Corruption among law enforcers and officials and vast stretches of unpatrolled coastline make the Philippines an attractive narcotics source and transshipment point.

Source: The Canadian Press, February 15, 2011

Death sentence vs 3 Pinoys in China final: embassy

The Chinese Embassy on Wednesday said the death sentence on 3 Filipino drug traffickers in China has been sustained after a judicial review of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of the People's Republic of China.

The embassy said the Philippines has already been informed of the SPC's decision through diplomatic channels.

"The death sentence on the three Filipino drug traffickers is the final verdict by the Chinese judicial authorities in accordance with law. As criminals of death penalty, their legitimate rights and interests have been protected in accordance with law. The Chinese side will render their relatives assistance and facilitation as necessary to visit the inmates in China," the embassy said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos, Jr. earlier said the Philippine government is racing against time to help the 3 Filipinos with the hope of commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.

He refused to disclose the last-minute legal and diplomatic options the government will be doing, saying this would compromise the cases.

2 of the 3 will be executed in Xiamen on February 21, while 1 will be executed in Guangdong the following day. All 3 will be executed via lethal injection.

The Chinese Embassy said meting out the death penalty to criminals perpetrating extremely serious crimes serves as a deterrent to drug-related crimes. It noted that drug-related crime has been universally recognized as a scourge by the whole world.

It also reminded foreign nationals in China to observe Chinese laws and refrain from engaging in drug trafficking or other drug-related crimes. "Otherwise, they would be punished by the Chinese judicial authorities in accordance with law," it said.

The embassy said the People's Republic of China attaches great importance to China-Philippines friendly relationship.

"Since our 2 countries established diplomatic ties 36 years ago, China-Philippines relations enjoyed smooth development and continuously deepened cooperation in various fields. At present, our 2 countries are facing with great opportunity to expand exchanges and deepen cooperation. The Chinese side stands ready to work with the Philippine side to advance China-Philippines strategic cooperation into greater depth," it said.

"The 2 sides have reached broad-based consensus and conducted sound cooperation on combating drug-related crimes. The Chinese side appreciates the Philippine side for its active measures taken against drug-related crimes and is willing to deepen cooperation with the Philippine side in a relentless effort to eradicate transnational drug-related crimes."

Source: abs-cbnnews, February 16, 2011

Feb. 18 update: Aquino appeals China's death sentence for 3 Filipinos

VICE-PRESIDENT Jejomar C. Binay who left for Beijing Friday brought with him a letter from President Benigno S. C. Aquino III appealing to Chinese President Hu Jintao for leniency on the impending execution of three Filipinos over drug trafficking.

Mr. Aquino, in the letter, sought for clemency or a reprieve for Sally Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain based on humanitarian grounds, deputy spokesperson Abigail D. Valte said in a briefing at Malacanang.

The three were convicted for smuggling at least 4,000 grams of heroin in 2008. Under the laws of China, those found guilty of smuggling 50 grams or more of heroin or equivalent drugs are punished with death penalty.

“Our appeal is focused on humanitarian grounds. The letter will personally be hand carried by the Vice-President,” Ms. Valte said.

“We reiterate that by our efforts, we do not mean to say that we are condoning the act of the three, but yet we are appealing for a reprieve for humanitarian reason,” she added.

He will meet with President of the Supreme People’s Court and the Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister on Saturday.

“We remain steadfast to our hope that the trip of Vice-President Binay will be successful,” Ms. Valte said.
In a statement, Mr. Aquino called on the public to unite in prayer for the grant of a stay of the execution.

“We ask the Divine to provide daily strength to Sally, Ramon and Elizabeth and their families as we all await a miracle,” the president said.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) joined the mounting appeals for the Chinese government to commute the capital punishment.

“We hope and pray that our pleas be heeded by our Chinese brethren. We also urged our people to pray for the fate of these countrymen ours,” said Maasin Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, ECMI chairman in a statement.

Source: BusinessWorldOnline, Ana Mae G. Roa, February 18, 2011
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