MANILA, MARCH 19, 2011 (STAR) [PHOTO - Aquino urges China not to execute 3 Filipinos. President Aquino says he will ask his Chinese counterpart to commute the death sentences of three Filipinos scheduled to be executed next week in China for drug trafficking. Mr. Aquino aid Wednesday that officials were trying to set up a phone call to Chinese President Hu Jintao so he could personally make the appeal on behalf of the two women and one man, whose death sentences were affirmed last week by the Supreme People's Court in Beijing. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the three were arrested separately in 2008 carrying packages containing about 33 pounds (15 kilograms) of heroin into China. They were convicted and sentenced in 2009.]
Drug mules' kin urged to respect China stand By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) Updated March 19, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines must respect the decision of the Chinese government on the three Filipinos who will be executed in China for drug trafficking, Malacañang said yesterday.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang is seeking the understanding of the families of the OFWs.
China earlier stayed the execution of Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32; Ramon Credo, 42; and Elizabeth Batain, 38 after President Aquino sent Vice President Jejomar Binay (photo) to Beijing last month to make a last-minute plea to the Chinese authorities.
The Philippine government, however, said that despite the postponement of the execution the Filipino people must continue to pray that the three Filipinos' sentences would be considered for commutation.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said Thursday that a commutation of the death sentences "has been ruled out," adding that the verdict of China's Supreme People's Court was final and would be enforced "sooner or later."
He said the final verdict had nothing to do with a recent territorial spat with the Philippines.
Valte said the Philippine government was advised early on that the decision to stay the execution was within the scope of Chinese laws and that whether to proceed with it or not would also be entirely their call.
"And we understand that fully and at this point they have already spoken and that it is irreversible and that there is no possibility for a commutation for the three. We respect their decision. We also understand the situation (of the OFWs' families) and we understand their sentiments," she said.
Earlier, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said all efforts were made and would be made to save the three from the death penalty but Chinese laws must be respected.
Sotto: Let it be
However, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Vicente Sotto III urged the government to respect China's decision to proceed with the execution.
Sotto also appealed for sobriety from the Filipino people by respecting Chinese laws as regards drug traffickers.
Sotto, former head of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), reiterated his call not to tolerate individuals who engage in illegal drug activities. The senator believes that imposing punishment on drug offenders would deter other people from following their example.
Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, said the execution should serve as a fair warning to Filipinos who would try to go into illegal drug activities to get bigger income.
Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the other hand, urged the Aquino administration not to give up even after the Chinese ambassador had declared that a commutation of the death sentences "has been ruled out."
"Only the Chinese government knows if there's still a chance to do anything still to help the three Filipinos sentenced to be executed. However, the Philippine government and all its officials should do whatever we can to protect our nations. We must keep trying any way we can."
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV also joined Marcos in his call.
"I believe at this point, Malacañang is still making a last-ditch effort, we'll just have to see if China will change its position," he said.
'Hope springs eternal'
While all eyes are focused on the fate of the three drug mules, the handler of Ordinario, Tita Cacayan of Alicia, Isabela, is due for preliminary hearing for illegal recruitment before the Department of Justice on April 4.
Cacayan has been in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since last month.
Jason Ordinario, Sally's brother, said the family still believes that the government can do something to prevent the execution, most likely by lethal injection.
He said they are optimistic even when the government has already explained it could no longer do anything to save his sister, that the sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said that they would continue to pray and hope for a miracle.
CBCP-Public Affairs Committee head Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez called on the faithful to continue to offer prayers for the three convicts.
"Let us continue to pray for a miracle. Let us pray that good would prevail," he said, admitting that he was surprised by the announcement of the Chinese ambassador.
CBCP-Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People head Maasin, Southern Leyte Bishop Precioso Cantillas said that he was saddened that China ruled out the commutation of the death sentence.
"Our stand for life and our fight against death penalty should be intensified. We could only pray for these countrymen of ours and others who are meted the death sentence. We pray also for the governments who still enforce capital punishment that they may value life most over other things and provide all the chances for human rehabilitation," said Bishop Cantillas.
"While it is true that there is a law in China and it has to be respected, but there is also such thing as the law of humanity for humanitarian reason," said CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive secretary Rodolfo Diamante.
He reiterated that killing convicted criminals would not deter the commission of crime and that it would be difficult on his part to convince China to also apply this rule to their own citizens.
Diamante suggested the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) create a team that would look for ways on how it could assist the Filipinos trapped in these types of situation.
"They should study the appeal in a particular country, check on the strategy." – Christina Mendez, Raymund Catindig, Evelyn Macairan
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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