Ignoring pleas from the Philippine government, China has defended its high court’s death ruling on a Filipino who smuggled huge amounts of prohibited drugs to the country.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry hinted that the sentence of the Filipino will not be commuted despite last-ditch appeal from Manila.
“I want to point out that China is a country ruled according to law, and the legal system has sentenced the Filipino drug smuggler according to law,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a press conference.
Hong added the Chinese government has noted the Philippines’ earlier statements that it respects the court decision.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, however, noted that the Chinese court’s ruling is considered too harsh, saying the Filipino is merely a victim of a drug trafficking syndicate.
“I believe that our countryman is not part of any criminal group. Criminal
elements took advantage fo his pitiable situation and under Chinese laws, such circumstance calls only for the imposition of life imprisonment,” Binay said in a statement.
The 35-year-old Filipino flew to China via Macau and Malaysia and admitted smuggling 1.495 kilos or 1,495 grams of heroin in Guangxi.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) refused to reveal the Filipino’s identity in deference to the request of his family.
According to the DFA, the Filipino was apprehended on Sept. 13, 2008 at the Guilin International Airport after authorities discovered the drugs in his possession.
In China, a person caught in possession of illegal drugs in the amount of more than 50 grams will be meted the death penalty if convicted.
He will be the fourth Filipino drug mule to be put to death through lethal injection in China this year. The execution date is set on Dec. 8.
Those Filipinos before him — two women and a man – were executed in Xiamen and Shenzhen in March for smuggling between 4,000 and 6,800 grams of heroin each.
Binay was instructed to go to Beijing to deliver President Aquino’s letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao, appealing for the commutation of the Filipino’s sentence, but cannot leave unless cleared by the Chinese government.
“This is an appeal to the political leadership,” the Vice President said.
“As of this time, we have not received an official communication from the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” he added. “Since the execution has not yet been carried out, we should not lose hope.”
Binay, however, said the Philippine government acknowledges that Chinese law has precedence over the case and that the strong relations between Beijing and Manila remain.
Like China, the Philippine stands strongly against illegal drugs, Binay said, but noted that government’s appeal is based on humanitarian consideration.
Lawmakers, for their part, have asked Filipinos to respect the decision of the Chinese government even as they appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be vigilant against drug syndicates.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the Philippines should not interfere in the criminal justice system of China.
“We can appeal but you know China is unlike us. They are very strict in the enforcement of their criminal laws. We show too much compassion. We have to respect the sovereign right of the country,” the veteran lawmaker said.
“They (Philippine government) are trying to exhaust all remedies but I think the Chinese government indicated to enforce their laws,” Enrile stressed.
Sen. Loren Legarda noted that the death sentence is unfortunate, but “we need to respect the decision.”
She added the DFA has exhausted all remedies to extend assistance under the Philippines laws.
“Ultimately, the decision is the result of law enforcement and the administration of justice by another country. We need to respect that. The matter is now beyond our hands,” Legarda said.
She also issued an appeal to all Filipinos overseas to be vigilant against attempts by unscrupulous individuals who may want to take advantage of their vulnerability either here or in another country.
Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in China alone, 70 Filipinos involved in drug trafficking were sentenced to death with 2 year reprieve, meaning their sentences will be commuted to lesser penalty if they show good behavior while in prison.
Hernandez also said 45 were meted life imprisonment, 80 with fixed-term sentences, while 12 more whose cases are pending await court decisions.
Due to scarce jobs and low wages at home, many impoverished Filipinos are lured into drug-trafficking in exchange for huge sums.
Despite government crackdown on drug syndicates, Filipino drug couriers continue to flourish.
Filipino women and lately even men are being hired by West African drug syndicates to transport prohibited drugs abroad – mainly to Asia and South America — by putting it either in their luggage or ingesting it. PNA
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