China to execute Pinay drug mule

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina is scheduled to be executed in China next week for drug trafficking, sources disclosed yesterday.

Embassy sources told The STAR that the decision to execute the Filipina was handed down this week.

The Filipina, who entered Shanghai as a tourist, was sentenced to death without reprieve in 2012.

She was one of two Filipinos – the other a male – arrested in a province near Shanghai in January 2011. They were caught with 12.369 kilos of high-grade heroin.

Under the Chinese criminal code, bringing 50 grams of heroin or any narcotic drug into the country is punishable by death.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated its appeal to all Filipinos to avoid accepting offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggage or in their person when going abroad in exchange for money, as harsh penalties await them at their destinations.

The Philippine government has a strong anti-illegal drug policy, and is closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies in other countries on efforts against drug trafficking.

It is undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the drug mules issue and to prevent the further victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates.

A 35-year old Filipino sentenced to death for drug trafficking was executed on Dec. 8, 2011 in China through lethal injection despite an appeal from President Aquino for a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment.

The executed Filipino was convicted for smuggling of 1.495 kilos of heroin to Guangxi.

China reminded the Philippines that it is a country under the rule of law and the Chinese judicial authority has passed the death sentence in accordance with law.

China carried out on March 30, 2011 the death sentence on three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking. Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain were executed by lethal injection.