Chinese envoy asks for understanding on looming executions of 3 Pinoys

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao on Thursday asked for the understanding of the Filipino people on the impending executions of three convicted Filipinos in China. "This is something that has to happen in accordance with the Chinese law so we hope [for] the understanding from the Filipino public and also the Philippine government with regard to this," he told reporters. Liu and President Benigno Simeon Aquino III attended the project unveiling of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Liu also assured the public that the Chinese government will do everything to help the families of the three Filipinos to meet the convicts before the scheduled executions. "The Chinese government will do everything that we can to provide facilitation to the relatives and officials who want to visit these criminals," he said. Amid the impending executions, Liu expressed hope that "everything will be smoothed out in the end." "So please we are very keen to develop the friendship and good relations between our countries," he said. "The Chinese people take very friendly approach toward our Filipino friends. I don't want it (executions) to be affecting our relations," he added. Liu also said that he has yet to receive a letter from Vice President Jejomar Binay, but stressed that he will work very hard to accommodate the message within the Chinese law. "I know that the Vice President and the President and the Philippine government have been working very hard in conveying the message and concern on the verdict of the three criminals," he said. Prisoner swap? The Chinese envoy said there have been some initiatives from the Philippine government for a prisoner swap but it would take time to have an agreement on it. “This is a complicated issue because we have some kind of differences in our legal system," he said. He added the dialogues and efforts in finding out the possibilities of having such treaty based on mutual benefits should be continued. “We are very open on such initiative so we continue to have facilitation and dialogue with the Philippine government. I can’t give you a date (on when the dialogues will happen) but it really depends on how the facilitation will be going on," Jianchao said. The three Filipinos to be executed on March 30 are Ramon Credo, 42; Elizabeth Batain, 38; and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32. Their executions were originally scheduled February 20 and 21, but were postponed for humanitarian reasons after the Feb. 18 visit to Beijing of Vice President Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns. The Supreme People’s Court of China affirmed the death sentences on the three last February 11. Ordinario-Villanueva was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on Dec. 24, 2008 into Xiamen, while Credo was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on Dec. 28, 2008 in Xiamen. Batain, meanwhile, was convicted for smuggling 6,800 grams of heroin on May 24, 2008, in Shenzhen. Under the Chinese criminal code, smuggling of 50 grams of heroin or any narcotic drug into China is punishable by death. — LBG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News