Chinese envoy: Death verdict on 3 Pinoy drug mules final

(Update 2 - 10:59 p.m.) Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao on Thursday said the death penalty against the three overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) convicted for smuggling drugs into China "will be carried out sooner or later." Liu told the media that "the verdict is a final verdict" and that commutation of the death sentences to life imprisonment has been ruled out already. However, Liu said China's Supreme Court has yet to determine the date of the execution of the three Filipinos. In February, Vice President Jejomar Binay flew to China in a last-ditch effort to appeal to the Chinese government to commute the death sentence on three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking. The three Filipinos are:

Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32, who claimed that she was not aware that the bag that her agency asked her to bring to China in 2008 contained illegal drugs; she was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on December 24, 2008 into Xiamen;

Ramon Credo, 42, who was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on December 28, 2008, also in Xiamen; and

Elizabeth Batain, 38, who was convicted for smuggling 6,800 grams of heroin on May 24, 2008, in Shenzhen. Liu said the three Filipinos must be punished in accordance with Chinese laws to deter such crimes. He said the cases of the three should serve as a reminder to people that drug trafficking carries a harsh punishment. Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing has informed Binay that the Chinese government agrees to his visit. Binay will leave on Friday morning to meet with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. No link to Spratlys dispute In the same briefing, Liu maintained the decision is not linked to the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines. Manila recently filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing after Chinese Navy patrol boats reportedly harassed a Philippine-sanctioned oil exploration vessel at the Reed Bank area to the west of Palawan. (See: PHL asks China to clarify 'presence' near Palawan) So far, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not announced any official response by China to the complaint. (See: Malacañang mum on China 'snub' of diplomatic protest) Liu added he does not see that the death verdicts will impact negatively on the bilateral relations between the countries, adding that Beijing is ready to receive President Benigno Aquino III for his first state visit tentatively scheduled in May. “I don’t want to link this case with the general relations between China and the Philippines because I don’t want to see that our wonderful relationship is being kidnapped by these drug criminals," Liu said. He added that at this point, the Philippine government must already have a “very good and clear understanding of Chinese laws." While Liu said he understands Manila's concern over the executions, he maintained that concern should likewise be shown for people who were victimized by the drug traffickers. Palace not surprised In Malacañang, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said they were not surprised with Liu's announcement, saying it was clear that what the Chinese government did was just to postpone the execution, which was originally scheduled early last month. “While we were hoping for a commutation but it was very, very clear that it was only a postponement and it was communicated to us by our friends from the Chinese Embassy that this was going to be a postponement of the execution. Against this is done within the scope of the Chinese law," Lacierda said at a press briefing. “It was made clear to us after the decision of the Chinese government to postpone the execution. I had the opportunity to meet with Chinese officials and it was made clear to us that it’s going to be a postponement of the execution," he added. He said the Philippine government respects the Chinese government's decision, although the Philippine government will still exert effort to save the three Filipinos. “I would imagine that we would still try to but we have to respect the decision of the Chinese authorities on that matter." He pointed that it was unprecedented that Chinese officials granted the Philippines a stay of execution. “This is the first time that they did it for an ally." Asked if President Aquino will push through with his state visit to China in May, Lacierda said he will just let the DFA make the announcement. “As a matter of protocol we do not announce it. It will be announced by the DFA. Definitely there are plans for a visit by the President to China but as to the specific dates we don’t have it yet," he said. For his part, DFA Acting Sec. Albert del Rosario said that while Manila respects Beijing's decision, they would continue to exert effort to save the lives of the three Filipinos. “I think every effort has been made to appeal for clemency and I think the Chinese have their rule of law to follow. I don’t know what other initiatives we can undertake," del Rosario said. Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado also said the Vice President “remains hopeful" that the executions will not push through. According to the DFA, there are 208 drug-related cases in China at present. Around 36 of the jailed Filipinos were meted life sentences while 72 others were given fixed-term imprisonment. About 19 cases are still pending. DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya earlier said some 72 Filipinos involved in earlier drug-related cases have been given two-year reprieves. According to China’s laws, if the convict shows good behavior within the two-year period, the sentence is automatically commuted to life imprisonment. – with Amita O. Legaspi/VVP/KBK/JMA/JV, GMA News