China executes 3 Pinoy drug mules

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the whole nation’s prayers and pleadings, China today pushed through with the executions of three Filipinos convicted for drug smuggling.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was in the Middle East, announced the news during a television interview.

"Hindi po tayo tumigil sa ating pakiusap na kahit isa o dalawa man lang sa kanila ang maisalba. Pero ang malungkot dito, hindi na po tayo napagbigyan at in-execute na po ang ating tatlong kababayan," Binay said.

While he incessantly appealed for clemency for the three, he said the Chinese government was adamant on the request, insisting on the execution of the three convicted drug mules.

Binay said that Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain were executed by lethal injection.

At past noon, Binay said in another television interview that the family of Villanueva has identified her body while Credo’s remains were to be cremated and the process will be over by 3 p.m.

He said he has yet to obtain information on Batain.

Villanueva, 32, was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on Dec. 24, 2008. Credo, 42, four days later was likewise convicted for smuggling a slightly bigger amount of heroin. Batain was sentenced to death on May 24 in the same year also for drug trafficking.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued a statement right after receiving news of the executions.

"Our government had taken every available opportunity to appeal to the authorities of China for clemency in their cases, to which the Chinese government responded with the postponement of the execution. In the end, however, the sentence was imposed," Lacierda said in a statement, which was read by his deputy, Abigail Valte.

The three Filipinos were supposed to be executed last February 20 and February 21, but it was postponed after Binay met with Chinese officials in China.

Lacierda added: "The nation sympathized with the families of the condemned, sharing their sense of looming loss. We sympathize with these families now. Their deaths are a vivid lesson in the tragic toll the drug trade takes on entire families."

The Palace spokesman, meanwhile, assured that the government will act strongly against the drug syndicates that have been victimizing Filipinos for the last several years.

"We are resolved to ensure that the chain of victimization, as pushers entrap and destroy lives in pursuit of their trade, will be broken. Those who traffic in illegal drugs respect no laws, no boundaries, and have no scruples about destroying lives. Our response must be relentless, with government and the citizenry working together to ensure vigilance and mutual support to prevent our countrymen from being used by drug pushers as sacrificial pawns, whether at home or abroad," he said.

Government data showed that there are a total of 630 Filipinos in jail for drug trafficking in foreign countries. A total of 250 are jailed in China and 72 of them are on death row.

‘Am I going to die today?’

The father of Villanueva, Peter, said in a radio interview that his daughter was surprised upon seeing them at the Xiamen detention house. He was with his wife and son, Jason.

He said the first words that came from Sally's mouth were: “Bakit kayo nandito, mamamatay na ba ako ngayon?”

The Ordinario family visited Sally around 8 a.m. The meeting lasted for at least an hour. The family of Credo was also allowed a one-hour visit at the same detention house.

Batain, meanwhile, was also visited by her family for an hour, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Philippine Consul Noel Novicio said this morning.

Peter also quoted his daughter as saying, “Huwag n’yo na akong alalahanin. Kung magtatagal man ako dito, mas mabuti nang mamatay ako at makakauwi na ako sa Pilipinas.”

He said that up to the last minute, Sally insisted she was innocent of the crime and that she was only a victim.

“Sinabi nga niya na siya ay nabiktima lang. Humingi siya ng patawad sa Panginoon kung ano man ang nagawa niya pero pinanindigan niya na inosente siya at nabiktima lamang siya,” he added.

He said his daughter also called on the Philippine government to help her family, especially in providing education to her two children. Despite the government’s failure to stop her execution, Sally was still very thankful for the assistance that it extended to her for the last three years, the father added.

“Sabi niya: ‘Hihingi ako ng tulong sa gobyerno para makapag-aral ng mabuti ang mga anak ko. Alagaan ninyo, at kung maari lang na maayos ang problema ko sa bahay,’” he said.