Execution of Filipino woman 'a warning'
Source: Agencies |
July 4, 2013, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FILIPINO woman convicted of drug trafficking in China was executed yesterday morning, the Philippine government said.
The execution came just days after Beijing told Manila it would not receive Vice President Jejomar Binay, who had planned to deliver a letter on Sunday from Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to Chinese President Xi Jinping seeking commutation to life imprisonment for the 35-year-old.
China's foreign ministry said then that his visit would not be "convenient," and Binay canceled his trip.
China has previously ignored such appeals and executed four Filipino drug convicts in 2011.
Philippine government officials said the execution should serve as a warning to other Filipinos.
"We certainly do not want other Filipino families to go through the same experience, and therefore we renew our call to our countrymen to avoid involvement with drug syndicates," foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
?Lives at stake'
Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte expressed hope "that this will serve as a continuing lesson to our citizens not to allow themselves to be victimized and to fall prey to these syndicates."
In a statement, Binay said, "It's not worth it. Lives are at stake here."
The woman was said to have been arrested at Hangzhou International Airport in January 2011 along with a Filipino man. Heroin was found hidden in her luggage, and she was later convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death. Her companion was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
Hernandez quoted Chinese authorities as saying the woman had trafficked illegal drugs to China 18 times since 2008 and was paid US$3,000 to US$4,000 per trip. She pleaded not guilty but the evidence against her was overwhelming, he said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that Chinese judicial authorities made a "fair judgment."
She said death sentences are used "cautiously" and are subject to strict legal procedures and regulations.
She reminded all foreigners in China that they should follow Chinese laws and not engage in illegal activities.
The execution came just days after Beijing told Manila it would not receive Vice President Jejomar Binay, who had planned to deliver a letter on Sunday from Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to Chinese President Xi Jinping seeking commutation to life imprisonment for the 35-year-old.
China's foreign ministry said then that his visit would not be "convenient," and Binay canceled his trip.
China has previously ignored such appeals and executed four Filipino drug convicts in 2011.
Philippine government officials said the execution should serve as a warning to other Filipinos.
"We certainly do not want other Filipino families to go through the same experience, and therefore we renew our call to our countrymen to avoid involvement with drug syndicates," foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
?Lives at stake'
Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte expressed hope "that this will serve as a continuing lesson to our citizens not to allow themselves to be victimized and to fall prey to these syndicates."
In a statement, Binay said, "It's not worth it. Lives are at stake here."
The woman was said to have been arrested at Hangzhou International Airport in January 2011 along with a Filipino man. Heroin was found hidden in her luggage, and she was later convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death. Her companion was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
Hernandez quoted Chinese authorities as saying the woman had trafficked illegal drugs to China 18 times since 2008 and was paid US$3,000 to US$4,000 per trip. She pleaded not guilty but the evidence against her was overwhelming, he said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that Chinese judicial authorities made a "fair judgment."
She said death sentences are used "cautiously" and are subject to strict legal procedures and regulations.
She reminded all foreigners in China that they should follow Chinese laws and not engage in illegal activities.
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