Noy writes to China: Spare Pinay from death row

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed that a Filipina convicted for drug trafficking will be executed anytime between today, June 27 and July 2.

At a televised press conference, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said a 35-year-old Filipina was convicted and sentenced to death for smuggling 6.198 kilos of heroin in China.

She was apprehended in January 2011 after heroin was found in her luggage at an international airport.

The Filipina was arrested with a Filipino male companion carrying 6.171 kilos of heroin in his own luggage.

Hernandez said the Filipina drug mule was represented by a legal counsel at all levels of proceedings.

Related story: China to execute Pinay drug mule

"The Philippine Government provided our kababayan all necessary and possible assistance and ensured that her legal rights were observed and that her welfare protected from the time of her arrest and throughout the judicial process," Hernandez said.

He said Pres. Benigno Aquino III has written a letter of appeal to Chinese President Xi Jinping, requesting a commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment.

The letter will be sent within the day through the Chinese embassy in Manila and the Philippine embassy in Beijing.

Hernandez said the Filipina's family has been informed of the decision of China's Supreme People's Court (SPC).

"[T]hey request that their privacy be respected during this very difficult time. Arrangements are being made for them to depart for China at the soonest possible time, in order to visit and see their loved one," Hernandez said.

The official said the Philippine government "makes sustained representations with the Chinese Government at all levels and exhausts all legal remedies to seek mitigated sentences for Filipinos on death row."

He revealed that as of June 2013, there a total of 213 drug-related cases involving Filipino nationals in China. Of this, 28 resulted to death penalty convictions with two-year reprieve, including that of the male Filipino companion of the sentenced Filipina.

Some 67 Filipinos are also in life imprisonment, 107 in term imprisonment while 10 others have cases still pending at the courts.

"The Philippines respects Chinese law and the verdict of the SPC on the case. The Philippine Government itself has a strong anti-illegal drug policy, and is closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies in China and in other countries on efforts against drug trafficking," said Hernandez.

The DFA also urged all Filipinos not to allow themselves to be involved in drug trafficking and to be extremely cautious when dealing with strangers in airports and other areas of transit.

"We call for personal vigilance and responsibility on the part of Filipinos who travel abroad," Hernandez said. with Camille Diola