Binay to pursue clemency for 3 Pinoys on China death row

(Updated 11:29 p.m.) Vice President Jejomar Binay, in his capacity as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) concerns, said he will keep seeking clemency for the three Filipinos who are scheduled to be executed in China on March 30 for drug trafficking. In a meeting at the Office of the Vice President on Friday, Binay told Elizabeth Batain's daughters and sisters that he will make a personal appeal to Chinese authorities as instructed by President Aquino. “Hinihingi pa rin natin sa Chinese government na mapagkalooban ng clemency itong ating mga kababayan," Binay said. (We continue to ask the Chinese government to grant clemency to these three fellow Filipinos.) “Pero kailangan nating intindihin na istrikto ang gobyerno ng China sa pagpataw sa kanilang mga batas," he added. (But we need to understand that China's government strictly enforces its laws.) One of Batain’s sisters, who requested not to be named, expressed optimism that the execution will be deferred again. “Kami po ay naniniwala 100 percent kay God at sa inyo na hindi na matutuloy ang bitay," she said. (We have 100-percent belief in God and in your efforts that the execution will not push through.) 3 Pinoys on death row The three Filipinos — Batain, 38; Ramon Credo, 42; and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32 — were originally scheduled to be executed on February 20 and 21 this year. The executions were put on hold after Binay's humanitarian visit to Beijing in February this year. The Supreme People’s Court of China affirmed the death sentences of the three Filipinos on February 11 and Binay went to Beijing upon orders from President Benigno Aquino III on February 18. Aquino earlier in the day admitted there is a limit to what the government can do to stop the execution of three convicted Filipinos. (See: Aquino: There is limit to what govt can do for Pinoys facing death in China) "There is a limit to what we can do… we are still trying to get them [Chinese authorities] reduce the penalty because we don’t have death penalty [in our country]," the President told Malacañang reporters. He added that the three Filipinos' admission of the crime during their testimonies did not help the three in their cases. "They admitted that they were doing something illegal, they just don't know then what they were smuggling," he said.
Plea of solons, drug mule's kin Meanwhile, two lawmakers, along with the family of Villanueva, appealed to the Chinese government on Friday to commute her death sentence and those of the two other Filipinos. At a press conference in Quezon City, Sally's parents and brother urged the Chinese government to have pity on the three convicted Filipinos because they were merely victims of drug syndicates. "Sana po ay lumambot ang puso nila. Biktima lang po siya at siya ay inosente lang (I hope their hearts soften. My daughter is just a victim and innocent)," said Sally's mother Edith. While she acknowledge that her daughter was at fault, Edith said Sally was unaware the baggage she was bringing with her to China contained heroin. Like their mother, Sally's brother, Jason Ordinario, also asked the Chinese government to give her sister a "second chance to live." "Tao po iyon at hindi lang parang hayop na basta papatayin," said Jason, who had already gone to great lengths to help her sister escape from the death sentence. He said he had even volunteered to become an undercover drug mule for the government. Jason said, with his help, the government succeeded in arresting eight suspected members of drug syndicates in the Philippines, two of whom were Nigerians. Reconsider decision Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, chairman of the House committee on overseas workers' affairs, said the Chinese government should reconsider their decision because it would deeply affect not only the convicts' families but the entire Philippines. "Do not carry out this sentence because this will be a tragedy for the country. The entire 90 million Filipinos will feel this as a personal tragedy," said Bello, who was joined at the press conference by committee member Rep. Emmeline Aglipay. Bello admitted the announcement of the date of the execution of the three Filipinos caught him off guard. He said his committee was still "investigating" several House resolutions on the issue of the three Filipinos on death row when news of the schedule of the execution broke out. "Congress was taken aback sa bilis. We were thinking this was an indefinite stay of execution," Bello admitted. Bello said Philippine officials were grateful for China's deferment of the execution even as it was not clear until when the suspension of the executions would be. He said the lawmakers' attention was also divided because of the turmoil in several countries where thousands of Filipinos are trapped. "Nakapako ang atensyon natin sa paglilikas ng mga Pilipino sa Middle East... But of course, this is no excuse," he said. While the execution of the three is barely five days away, he remains hopeful that the evidence which Jason obtained after being an embedded drug mule would lead to the commutation of their sentences. It's never too late to do anything... I admit naghahabol tayo. We're trying very hard to the last minute to save our kababayan," he assured. Bello said he and the Ordinario family will be holding a prayer vigil Friday night at the Boy Scouts' Circle on Timog Avenue corner Tomas Morato. - With Jerrie M. Abella/VVP/JV, GMA News