Priests to offer special prayer for Filipina drug mule in China

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday called on other parishes and dioceses in the country to offer a special prayer for the Overseas Filipino Worker on death row in China for drug smuggling.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Itinerant People executive secretary Fr. Edwin Corros said the the prayer offering would be on June 30 for the Filipina drug mule who is scheduled to be executed on July 2.

"Panawagan natin sa lahat ng pari na mag-alay ng dasal hanggang Linggo para huwag matutuloy ang pagbitay sa OFW na nakatakda sa a-dos ng Hulyo," Fr.Corros told Church-run Radyo Veritas.

The prelate also said that the government should learn to immediately help Filipinos sitting on death row in other countries.

"Nakakalungkot na mahina ang respond ng ating government. Matagal na ito, ang structures ang pagdaing sa ganitong bagay ay walang mabilis na  respond sa problemang ito," he added.

He also attributed to the so-called "migration mentality" of Filipinos for the various problems they are now experiencing abroad.

He said the poverty is still one the reasons why Filipinos take their chances overseas to uplift or improve the lives of their families in the country.

"Laging ini-exploit ang kahirapan ng isang tao. Kaya palaging kung sinasabi na malaking hamon sa pamahalaan ang paglikha ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan para hindi na sila mangibang bansa gayundin sa Simbahan na tugunan ang spirituality ng tao para hindi masilaw sa kinang ng salapi," Fr. Corros said.

At present, there are more than 300 Filipinos in various jails in China for illegal drugs.