Fushigi
March 29th, 2011, 06:18 AM
"The Fujian People’s Court and Guangdong High People’s Court have informed the Philippine Consulates General in Xiamen and Guangzhou on the date of the carrying out of the death penalty on three Filipino nationals, namely Mr. Ramon Credo, Miss Elizabeth Batain and Miss Sally Villanueva," the DFA said in a statement.
"The death penalty will be carried out on March 30 on Mr. Credo and Ms. Villanueva in Xiamen and on Ms. Batain in Shenzhen."
The announcement came more than a month after Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay’s trip to China had obtained a temporary postponement of the execution.
Credo, 42, was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams (g) of heroin in Xiamen; Villanueva, 32, for smuggling 4,110 g of heroin in Xiamen; and Batain, 38, for smuggling 6,800 g of heroin in Shenzhen.
Credo and Villanueva were supposed to be executed on Feb 21, while Batain on Feb. 22.
"Their families have been informed of the carrying out of the sentences, and arrangements are being made for them to depart for China during the weekend, in order to visit and see their loved ones," the statement added.
Both Filipino and Chinese officials have reiterated earlier that the death sentence on the three Filipinos is final and can no longer be appealed.
Beijing had said the postponement was in accordance with law.
The DFA said the Philippine government had provided the three with legal and consular assistance during the trial.
Meanwhile, the DFA has reiterated an appeal for Filipinos to reject offers to become drug mules in exchange for money.
"We appeal to all Filipinos, especially OFWs, (overseas Filipino workers) 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," the department said.
"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."
Philippine authorities had gone to great lengths in a bid to save the three, who were convicted in 2008 of trafficking heroin, and made repeated appeals for their sentences to be commuted to life in jail.
The government had insisted that the three, who are among 227 Filipinos jailed in China for drug offenses, were from poor families and were duped into becoming drug mules by crime gangs.
The Foreign Affairs department said the relatives of the death row inmates had been informed of the impending executions, and arrangements were being made for them to leave for China to see them for the last time.
-offtopic- who should be punished? the recruiter or the drug courier or lets just say both??..
"The death penalty will be carried out on March 30 on Mr. Credo and Ms. Villanueva in Xiamen and on Ms. Batain in Shenzhen."
The announcement came more than a month after Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay’s trip to China had obtained a temporary postponement of the execution.
Credo, 42, was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams (g) of heroin in Xiamen; Villanueva, 32, for smuggling 4,110 g of heroin in Xiamen; and Batain, 38, for smuggling 6,800 g of heroin in Shenzhen.
Credo and Villanueva were supposed to be executed on Feb 21, while Batain on Feb. 22.
"Their families have been informed of the carrying out of the sentences, and arrangements are being made for them to depart for China during the weekend, in order to visit and see their loved ones," the statement added.
Both Filipino and Chinese officials have reiterated earlier that the death sentence on the three Filipinos is final and can no longer be appealed.
Beijing had said the postponement was in accordance with law.
The DFA said the Philippine government had provided the three with legal and consular assistance during the trial.
Meanwhile, the DFA has reiterated an appeal for Filipinos to reject offers to become drug mules in exchange for money.
"We appeal to all Filipinos, especially OFWs, (overseas Filipino workers) 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," the department said.
"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."
Philippine authorities had gone to great lengths in a bid to save the three, who were convicted in 2008 of trafficking heroin, and made repeated appeals for their sentences to be commuted to life in jail.
The government had insisted that the three, who are among 227 Filipinos jailed in China for drug offenses, were from poor families and were duped into becoming drug mules by crime gangs.
The Foreign Affairs department said the relatives of the death row inmates had been informed of the impending executions, and arrangements were being made for them to leave for China to see them for the last time.
-offtopic- who should be punished? the recruiter or the drug courier or lets just say both??..