The Philippines has sent its appeal to the Chinese government to spare the life of a 33-year old Filipina who had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking, scheduled to be executed next week.
President Benigno Aquino III has written a letter of appeal to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting a commutation of the death sentence, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez announced.
The woman was one of two Filipinos arrested for smuggling over 12 kilos of high-grade heroine to China in 2011.
Reports from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said a Nigerian national recruited the two Filipino drug mules.
The family of the Filipina has already been informed of the decision of the Supreme People’s Court of China, and they request that their privacy be respected, and arrangements are being made for them to visit her in China, Hernandez said.
Her male companion, who was her cousin was also sentenced to death but was given a two-year reprieve due to good behavior.
Meanwhile Hernandez reminded all Filipinos not to allow themselves to be involved in drug trafficking and to be extra cautious when dealing with strangers in airports and areas of transit.
In addition with the reminders, all Filipinos should 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.
In December 2011, a 35-year old Filipino was executed through lethal injection also for drug trafficking despite an appeal from President Aquino to lower the sentence to life imprisonment.
Earlier in March 2011, three Filipino drug mules were also executed in China, despite of the repeated pleas of the Philippine government and the Catholic church.
Hernandez said that there were 213 Filipinos caught in drug-related cases in China.
