[PHOTO - Vice President Jejomar Binay is welcomed upon his arrival at the Beijing Capital Airport yesterday by Chinese Ambassador to Manila Liu Jianchao, who is on vacation in the Chinese capital. AP]
MANILA, FEBRUARY 19, 2011 (STAR) By Pia Lee-Brago - As the Philippines made a last-ditch effort to save three Filipinos on death row in China for drug smuggling, Beijing stressed yesterday it could not guarantee that the three would be spared from execution.
As of 8:30 last night, China gave no indication that it was giving in to the Philippines' request.
China said the death penalty is applied rigidly and "equally" to convicted drug smugglers, including foreigners, and that the case of the three Filipinos would not be treated differently.
Vice President Jejomar Binay is in China to personally appeal to the president of the Supreme People's Court and to China's executive vice foreign minister for a commutation of the death sentence on the three Filipinos. With Binay was Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Esteban Conejos.
Sun Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Manila, said that "as far as the embassy is concerned, the decision on the Filipinos sentenced to die by lethal injection is final."
China acceded Thursday night to a Philippine request that it send Binay to negotiate for clemency for the three.
"Personally, I really can't see that scenario. I can't imagine. This is not the first time foreigners in China will be executed for drug trafficking," Sun said.
"There are nationals from Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and UK who were detained and sentenced to death in China. The amount of drugs they carried was far less than the drugs carried by the Filipinos …they carried about 2,000 grams," Sun told reporters in an interview.
If the three Filipinos are spared, Sun said, "you can imagine what kind of reaction this could create from those countries whose citizens were executed."
Since China still employs capital punishment, Sun said, "we have strict procedures for death penalty to apply."
China, he said, strictly imposes the death penalty for drug-related cases because of the harm they pose to society.
"It's the first time China entertained this (high level visit). As we stated in the embassy statement, that's the final verdict," Sun said.
Sun also said it was unlikely that a phone communication between Aquino and China's president Hu Jintao would ever take place before the dates of execution.
Facing execution on Monday are Ramon Credo, 42; and Sally Villanueva, 32. Elizabeth Batain, 38, is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.
Credo was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on Dec.28, 2008, in Xiamen while Villanueva was meted death penalty for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin in Xiamen on Dec. 24 in the same year.
Batain was found in possession of 6,800 grams of heroin in Shenzhen on May 24, 2008.
"I can't guarantee (phone communication). In China, we don't have this common practice," Sun said. "We hope to see this case as isolated criminal case in China involving our countries. We do hope this will not be linked to our bilateral relations," he said.
Still hopeful
Office of Migrant Workers Affairs Special Assistant Enrico Fos said the government would continue to appeal for clemency for the three even if China had no record of giving in to requests for commutation of death sentence from other countries.
"It's not the first time a foreign government made an appeal on similar situation. On specific cases there were British and Japanese nationals sentenced to death. It doesn't stop us from doing our best on humanitarian grounds to save our nationals," Fos said in a press briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The DFA said there are a total of 227 drug related cases involving Filipinos in China.
DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said Binay and Conejos were scheduled to meet with President Wang Shen Jun of the Supreme People's Court and other high-ranking Chinese officials yesterday at 2:30 p.m.
"We note that in receiving the Vice President, the Chinese government took into serious consideration the sentiments of President Aquino and the Filipino people. It is rare for countries to send a high-level official to appeal for their nationals in these circumstances," Malaya said. "President Aquino, with his deep sense of compassion, decided to instruct the Vice President to proceed to China for the sake of the families of our three Filipino nationals," he added.
"We also note that the sentences imposed on the three Filipinos are final in accordance with Chinese law, and we respect the decisions of the Chinese courts," he said.
The families of Credo and Villanueva will leave for Xiamen this morning and are expected to see their loved ones on death row tomorrow.
The family of Batain will depart Manila for Guangzhou tomorrow morning.
Malaya said the DFA had repeatedly made representations for clemency for the distressed Filipinos.
In August 2010 last year for instance, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo wrote a letter to Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Yang Jiechi to seek clemency on humanitarian grounds.
"The Philippine embassy and consulates general also ensured that all three Filipinos were represented by competent legal counsel and aided by translators during the trial of their cases," Malaya said.
United in prayer
President Aquino, meanwhile, made an emotional appeal for prayers for clemency for the three Filipinos.
But the Palace stressed that in trying to save the three convicts, they were not condoning drug trafficking and that they would remain in detention in China to pay for their offenses.
"As you know, you are all aware of the circumstances that led to the apprehension of the three and apart from that… we reiterated that we are not—by our efforts—we do not mean to say that we are condoning the acts of the three but yet we are appealing for a reprieve for humanitarian reasons," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
"May I call on all Filipinos, led by our religious leaders of all faiths to unite ourselves in prayer beginning (yesterday) at sundown, at the pealing of the bell for the Angelus or during the most quiet and meditative times consistent with our respective faiths. All our prayers will soar to touch the heart of God – the God who 'will make a way where there seems to be no way,'" the President said.
"We have been told several times that there is no more hope but I believe that while there is still time, hope springs eternal in the nation's breast and we will sustain our efforts to get clemency or reprieve for Sally Villanueva, Ramon Credo, and Elizabeth Batain," he said. "Our hope stems from our earlier success when our incessant appeal to the leadership of China had resulted in the government granting a reprieve to Myrna San Pedro and Estella Capunong," Aquino said.
"We publicly thank China's leaders for tempering justice with mercy. We believe we have found a soft spot in the hearts of China's ranking officials. And yet beyond the decisions of men and women tasked to govern their nations, we know there is a God who inspires wisdom and grace among these leaders. The same Divine Presence that creates the miracle of power softened by grace and justice tempered with mercy," he added.
"A door which was otherwise closed has just opened and we remain steadfast in our hope that the trip of Vice President Binay will further our appeal for leniency to the Chinese government," Valte said.
Binay would hand a letter to President Hu Jintao containing Aquino's personal appeal for clemency.
"I carry with me the prayers of the Filipino people, led by President Aquino, that clemency could be granted on humanitarian grounds," Binay said for his part.
"Our embassy in Beijing informed me this visit is a special consideration for the Philippines, in view of the close friendship between our two countries and peoples," Binay said before leaving for China.
NBI probe
Meanwhile, the husband of Villanueva surfaced Thursday night at the National Bureau of Investigation to accuse his wife's town mate as her recruiter and source of illegal drugs.
Hilario Villanueva said it was Tita Nera Cacayan who enticed Villanueva into going to China to work as factory worker. He said the recruiter paid for the plane fare and even gave his wife $1,000 allowance. Hilario, a bus driver, detailed how Cacayan misled his wife in an affidavit submitted to the NBI. "My wife is innocent, it's she (Cacayan) who should be executed," he said. "We didn't know my wife was made to carry a bag with drugs inside."
Deputy Director for Intelligence Services Ruel Lasala said they would dig deeper into the case to identify the drug syndicate responsible.
The NBI official revealed that based on their initial
assessment, Sally was really not aware she was carrying illegal drugs when she went to China before Christmas 2008.
He added that more witnesses would be summoned to shed light on the operation of drug syndicates using Filipinos as couriers. "We are waiting for relatives of other Filipinos detained in China for drug trafficking to appear here to give statements."
Cacayan earlier showed up at the NBI to deny allegations against her.
She said she decided to go with NBI operatives who picked her up from her house in Barangay Rizal, Alicia town, Isabela province to clear her name. With Edu Punay, Jose Rodel Clapano, Raymund Catindig, and Rudy Santos
China resets execution of 3 Pinoys By Jun Pasaylo (philstar.com) Updated February 19, 2011 01:24 AM
MANILA, Philippines – The government of China informed its Philippine counterpart late Friday of the suspension of next week's execution of three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in Xiamen and Shenzhen.
In a meeting in Beijing, China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo, together with Supreme People's Court president Zhang Zhijun and Executive Vice Minister Zhang Zhijun, told Vice President Jejomar Binay of the postponement of the execution of the accused.
Two of the accused are detained in Xiamen after being arrested for smuggling 8,000 grams of heroin, while the other was nabbed for transporting 6,800 grams of the same drugs in Shenzen.
The Xiamen detainees are scheduled to die through lethal injections on February 21, while the Shenzen prisoner's execution was earlier slated on February 22.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it fully respects China's law and verdict on the accused, while thanking the decision to suspend the execution.
The Chinese government however was silent on the implementation of the verdict, but cited that it is determined to work in the fight against transnational crimes, including drug trafficking.
Prayers offered for 3 Pinoy convicts in China By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star) Updated February 19, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – Catholic bishops called yesterday for prayers for three Filipinos facing death for drug smuggling in China.
Facing execution on Monday are Ramon Credo, 42; and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32. Elizabeth Batain, 38, is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday.
Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Southern Leyte said people must value life, which is a gift from God. "We should nourish and spend (human love) according to His will and purpose," he said.
Cantillas said the Church and society must take care of migrant workers and guide them to be good citizens abroad, faithful to God.
"We hope and pray that our pleas be heeded by our Chinese brethren," he said.
"We also urge our people to pray for the fate of these countrymen of ours."
Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao appealed to China on behalf of the three Filipinos that they be spared the death penalty.
"I hope that they would be given the opportunity to reflect on their actions and ask forgiveness, corrective punishment," he said.
"They should be given the opportunity to correct their lives, to be given a second chance or third chance."
Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. of Novaliches hopes that a Catholic priest be allowed to give the last sacraments to the three Filipinos before they face their death.
Prayers must be offered for them during Masses on Sunday in case they would be executed on Monday and Tuesday, he added.
Bishop Deogracias Iniguez of Caloocan prayed: "Lord, please bless them and their families. We also pray that the Chinese government would look for the truth and this would be the basis for their actions. We pray that truth and justice would prevail."
Bishop Sergio Utleg of Laoag prayed that God bless the country, most especially the overseas Filipino workers.
He also asked for the forgiveness of the three Filipinos for whatever crimes they might have committed.
Credo was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on Dec. 28, 2008 in Xiamen.
Villanueva was meted the death penalty for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin in Xiamen on Dec. 24 the same year.
Batain was found in possession of 6,800 grams of heroin in Shenzhen and sentenced on May 24, 2008.
'Save 3 Pinoys'
Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla called yesterday on Filipinos to rally behind President Aquino in trying to save the three Filipinos facing death in China.
"At the same time our government must be vigilant in warning Filipinos, particularly the poor and vulnerable sectors, not to succumb to carrying packages for money because their lives are more important," she said.
Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco said if the Filipinos were convicted, Aquino should not be faulted for exhausting all means to save them.
"We value life," he said. "We believe in redemption."
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo reminded Filipinos leaving for abroad to be on guard against drug syndicates.
"Do not allow yourselves to bring unknown packages as requested by others, even by people you know, even for a sum of money, even by your recruiters," he said. Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile called on government agencies guarding the country's entry points for greater vigilance to remove the country's image as a major transshipment point for illegal drugs.
"It is lamentable that an alarming number of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) are being used by international drug syndicates as so-called 'drug mules,'" he said. Palawan Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra said Filipino authorities should not hesitate to kill Chinese poachers if the three Filipinos would be executed.
"If the Chinese government does not listen to pleas of PNoy and the Vice President (Jejomar Binay) and they will continue to execute three Filipinos then we should retaliate and also execute Chinese fishermen who destroy our marine resources with illegal and destructive ways of fishing," he said.
Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. called yesterday on Filipinos to pray that China would commute the death penalty imposed on the three.
"Baka sakali na sa sama-sama nating panalangin ay magbago ang sitwasyon at magdesisyon ang China na maibaba ang hatol sa mga kababayan natin," he said
Villar believes that the three Filipinos are victims of illegal drug syndicates.
"We are hoping that the commutation of sentence will be a gift by the Chinese government on the occasion of the People Power anniversary," he said.
PDEA tracking down syndicates
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are tracking down members of an international syndicate using Filipino workers as courier of illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez said they already have information against the syndicate members.
"We are now in the process of tracking them," he said.
"There are several of them roaming in the country recruiting Filipino women as OFWs."
Gutierrez identified the international drug group as "West African Syndicate" whose modus is to recruit innocent OFWs as drug couriers.
"The syndicate usually communicates with their counterpart through the Internet," he said.
"The bad thing is that those Filipinos who joined the syndicate are those who are victimizing fellow Filipinos, those would-be OFWs.
"They (syndicate members) would then provide baggage to the applicant not knowing that one of the bags before the flight already contained illegal drugs."
PNP chief PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo said they have coordinated with the Interpol to tighten their operation against the international illegal drug syndicate.
"The PNP is doing its effort to help dismantle the international drug syndicate in coordination with the Interpol," he said.
PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said Bacalzo and the Interpol representatives have tightened their cooperation and coordination to dismantle the syndicates.
"The government and the PNP are doing everything to stop the operation of this illegal drug syndicate," he said.
Soliman: Families to undergo debriefing
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said families of the three Filipinos will have to undergo "psychological stress debriefing" to help them cope with their ordeal.
"We are already in touch with all of the families," she said.
"Two families have already been given stress debriefing... The family of the man was busy preparing for their departure to China."
Soliman was in Catarman, Samar to participate in the national launching of RN Heals Project and Interdepartmental Convergence for Northern Samar Development. Under RN Heals Project, the government will be deploying a total of 10,000 nurses to 12,000 municipalities that hardly receive health care.
RN Heals stands for Registered Nurses for Health and Local Services.
Northern Samar will get 201 nurses for its 10 municipalities.
According to Soliman, some of the children who understand the situation have already manifested signs of trauma.
"They feel ashamed of what happened. The families really need counseling. The ages of the children are different so they have different responses to the situation... It is not only losing someone you love but losing them in the way that they are going to go (may be traumatic for them)," she added.
She assured that the DSWD will be providing livelihood and scholarship assistance to the families "if and when it happens."
"We are actually exploring other forms of livelihood that we can provide them ... One of the families is requesting for media blackout because the news are stressing the children. I just don't know if it is possible," Soliman said.
Chinese appeal for commutation
An alliance of Chinese patriots advocating closer Philippine-China relationship has appealed for the commutation of sentence or granting of pardon for the three Filipinos facing death in China.
Xu Ke Quiang (John Ko), spokesman of the Sin LiangKnong Hue (The New
Alliance of Patriotic Chinese Businessmen in the Philippines -NAPCP) told The STAR at the Hotel Rembrandt that their group is set to make a formal appeal for the granting of reprieve to the Filipinos because they believe that they were victims of drug syndicates.
The NAPCP which is headed by its president Lim Kian San and vice president Ong Shu Heo was formed on June 9, 1975 when
diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China were established.
"We are promoting friendship between the two countries, we promote economic and cultural interchange" he said.
He said their group is also fully supportive of the one-China policy being adopted by the Philippine government.
The group has been conducting medical missions and civic actions in areas affected by natural calamities and sponsor education and cultural exchange between Filipino and Chinese students.
He said after the onslaught of killer typhoon "Ondoy" they were the first group to send relief goods in the typhoon devastated areas.
"But we shy publicity, we just provide help to the needy," Quiang said.
He said the three Filipino convicts awaiting execution are similar to the victims of natural calamities who are needing immediate help. —With Paolo Romero, Chrisna Mendez, Jun Elias, Sheila Crisostomo, Perseus Echeminada
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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