DFA: 3 Pinoy drug mules to be executed March 30

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced today that the three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in China will be executed on March 30.

The DFA said the Fujian People’s Court and Guangdong High People’s Court have informed the Philippine Consulates General in Xiamen and Guangzhou of the date of execution of Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain and Sally Villanueva.

Credo and Villanueva will be executed in Ziamen, while Batain will suffer the death penalty in Shenzhen.

The implementation of the penalties for the three drug mules was originally scheduled last February 20, but the Chinese court suspended it following the visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The DFA said that the Philippine government provided all possible legal assistance to the three convicted drug mules, but said it has to respect the ruling of the Supreme People’s Court of China.

“The government ensured that their legal rights were respected and observed, and their welfare protected from the time of their arrests and throughout the judicial process, and even up to this very day,” the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA reiterated its appeal to all Filipinos not to allow themselves to be victimized by international drug syndicates and to be extremely cautious when dealing with strangers in airports and other areas of transit.

“We wish to stress that vigilance is the first major step in combating the modus operandi of international drug traffickers. We urge all our citizens to be on alert at all times in order not to be victimized by drug syndicates,” it added.