Philippines VP flies in to plead for smugglers
Source: Agencies |
February 18, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Philippines' vice president will fly to China today to seek clemency for three Filipino drug smugglers set to be executed, after China withdrew opposition to the trip.
However, the sentences still seem likely to be carried out.
The two women and a man are expected to be executed in two southern Chinese cities next week for drug trafficking.
Vice President Jejomar Binay's office said yesterday he would fly out early today and meet with the Chief Justice of China's Supreme Court.
Earlier, Binay said China had told the Philippines embassy in Beijing that it was not appropriate for him to travel to plead for the sentences to be commuted.
"As long as the executions are not carried out, we remain hopeful and we will continue to pray," Binay had said.
President Benigno Aquino had sought a high-level meeting to discuss drug-related cases of about 200 Filipinos in Chinese jails. About 70 have been sentenced to death but given two-year reprieves.
The three would be the first Filipinos to be executed in China, and China appears in no mood to compromise.
"This is an independent criminal issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said. "China hopes the Philippines deals with this properly, taking the whole situation into account."
Aquino, who is due to make a state visit to China in May, has written to his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, asking for the death sentences to be commuted. In December, Aquino said one reason Manila skipped the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Liu Xiaobo was because he did not want to jeopardize efforts to save Filipinos sentenced to death.
China has executed other foreign nationals for drug offences.
However, the sentences still seem likely to be carried out.
The two women and a man are expected to be executed in two southern Chinese cities next week for drug trafficking.
Vice President Jejomar Binay's office said yesterday he would fly out early today and meet with the Chief Justice of China's Supreme Court.
Earlier, Binay said China had told the Philippines embassy in Beijing that it was not appropriate for him to travel to plead for the sentences to be commuted.
"As long as the executions are not carried out, we remain hopeful and we will continue to pray," Binay had said.
President Benigno Aquino had sought a high-level meeting to discuss drug-related cases of about 200 Filipinos in Chinese jails. About 70 have been sentenced to death but given two-year reprieves.
The three would be the first Filipinos to be executed in China, and China appears in no mood to compromise.
"This is an independent criminal issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said. "China hopes the Philippines deals with this properly, taking the whole situation into account."
Aquino, who is due to make a state visit to China in May, has written to his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, asking for the death sentences to be commuted. In December, Aquino said one reason Manila skipped the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Liu Xiaobo was because he did not want to jeopardize efforts to save Filipinos sentenced to death.
China has executed other foreign nationals for drug offences.
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