DFA: PHL govt helped Pinoy convicted of drug possession in Iran
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday belied news reports the Philippine Embassy failed to assist a Filipino sentenced to 15 years in prison in Iran for possession of illegal drugs. In a press statement, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Tehran assisted Edmar Aquino before and during his court trials. âMr. Aquino was represented by a legal counsel, and Embassy officials attended the court proceedings," the DFA said, quoting a report from the Embassy. The Embassy added that it coordinated with Iranian authorities in assisting Aquino in his case. According to the DFA, Aquino, 26, was apprehended in September 2009 at the Shiraz Airport while he was on his way out of Iran, after compressed heroin amounting to 5 kilos were found in his possession, a crime punishable by death penalty. Aquino denied having knowledge of the content of the bag and claimed that a Nigerian friend asked him to pick up the bag at Toos Hotel in Mashad, to be brought to the Philippines. Aquino was convicted by the court of Shiraz in Iran in December of the same year, sentencing him to a reduced penalty of 15 years in jail rather than life imprisonment. âThe court considered the fact that Aquino did not distribute the drugs, he was a mere visitor in Iran, and he was young who may have been deceived," the DFA said. The Embassy added it will continue to make representations for the further commutation of Aquinoâs jail sentence. In earlier reports, migrantsâ advocacy group Migrante International said Aquino, as well as other Filipinos overseas convicted of drug trafficking, did not receive assistance from the Philippine government, as it is allegedly the policy of the DFA not to help OFWs involved in possession or trafficking of illegal substances. (http://www.gmanews.tv/100days/story/197245/ofw-group-slams-dfa-double-standards-over-singson-drug-case Filipinos have fallen prey to drug syndicates by acting as drug mules, or smugglers of prohibited substances across national borders in exchange for as much as $2,000 (about P86,600). The syndicates, usually drug rings originating from West Africa, employ various modus operandi including: