PHL officials in Beijing make daily pleas for 3 convicts

While admitting that their chances are bleak, Philippine officials in Beijing are still pulling out all stops to spare the lives of the three Filipinos facing execution for drug-related offenses. Consul to China Noel Novicio said they had been making daily representations with Chinese officials at all levels when they learned of the affirmation of the death sentence for the three. “Patuloy ang ginagawa nating representation. Noong na-receive natin ang balitang ito araw-araw ang ginagawa nating representation to the highest level ng Chinese government," Novicio said in an interview on dzBB radio. (We continue to make representations. Since we learned of the upholding of the death sentences, we have been making daily representations with the Chinese government at the highest levels.) He declined to comment on the chances of success of the Philippine government’s efforts, which include a mission headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay. Novicio said they have about “one to two weeks" left to make the last-ditch efforts. “Naniniwala kami kahit napakaliit ng pagasa pero kailangan natin gawin kasi nakalaan tatlong buhay (We believe that even if our chances are bleak, we must do all we can to save the three lives)," he said.

Earlier this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) upheld the death penalty on three Filipinos convicted for a drug offense. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III sent Binay to China to make a last-ditch plea for the lives of the three Filipinos. “Gusto ko lang i-stress na hindi tayo sumusuko kasi tatlong buhay ang nakalaan. Gumagawa tayo ng lahat na paraan ng representation sa Chinese government (I just want to emphasize we are not giving up on the three lives at stake. We are doing all we can in terms of representations with the Chinese government)," he said. “Lahat na pagkakataon ginawa natin lahat na representation. Patuloy natin ginagawa ng ating representation (We have been making representations at all levels and we will continue to do so)," he added. – VVP, GMA News