[PHOTO - Another Pinay in trouble. Maria Cecilia Lopez was caught at Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar in Indonesia Monday by Customs officials for attempting to smuggle 324.87 grams of metamphetamine or shabu. COURTESY OF MALAYA BUSINESS INSIGHT]
MANILA, APRIL 19, 2011 (STAR) The Department of Foreign Affairs today announced that another Filipina has been arrested for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
The DFA said the Filipina was arrested by Indonesian Customs and Excise Officers at Adi Sumarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java, for possession of 1.193 kilograms of class 1 type of heroin.
It said that the Filipina was arrested on April 3 upon arrival at the airport via Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The DFA said that based on initial interrogation conducted by Indonesian authorities, the Filipina was sent to Indonesia by a Filipino, who is a member of an international drug syndicate, in exchange for $8,000.
"The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta is providing assistance to the Filipina to ensure that her rights are respected," the DFA said in a statement.
With the latest arrest of a Filipino drug mule, the DFA reiterated its appeal to Filipinos to avoid offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs when going abroad in exchange for a huge amount of money.
It reiterated that "harsh penalties await them in their destinations."
Last week, three Filipino drug mules were executed in China.
The DFA said 73 Filipinos in China were meted death penalties with two-year reprieves, which in Philippine legal parlance is equivalent to life imprisonment.
In China, trafficking of 50 grams or more of illegal drugs is punishable by 15 years in prison, life imprisonment or death.
In most Muslim countries, drug trafficking is punishable by death, the DFA said.
Saudi pardons, frees Pinoy drug mule (The Philippine Star) Updated April 18, 2011 01:26 PM Comments (32)
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs said today that an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was earlier sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia was granted pardon and freed Sunday.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh reported that the repatriation of the freed OFW has been arranged and he is due to arrive in Manila today.
The Embassy is not releasing his name, in deference to the request of his family for privacy. The OFW was sentenced to death by beheading in November 2009 by a tribunal of three judges for involvement in smuggling illegal drugs in Saudi Arabia.
In February 2008, he was apprehended by Saudi law enforcement agents after receiving a postal package with shabu hidden inside. Smuggling and selling of illegal drugs in Suadi is punishable by death.
Through the help of the Philippine post in Riyadh, two members of the tribunal reduced the penalty from death to 15 years imprisonment, 1500 lashes and a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals.
The Embassy included the OFW's name in the list submitted to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud for the grant of Royal Clemency.
The Embassy's efforts were favorably acted upon, and the prisoner was released after serving three years in detention.
Upon release, he tearfully thanked the Embassy for its relentless efforts for his freedom, while expressing gratitude to Charge d'Affaires (CDA) Ezzedin H. Tago.
"His release is testament to the hard work and tireless dedication of the men and women of the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh in safeguarding the welfare of every Filipino in Saudi Arabia," CDA Tago said.
The OFW is the third Filipino sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia whose freedom was successfully secured by the Embassy -- Michael Roque was released from prison in February 2011, while Nonito Abono was released in November 2010.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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