Pinay teacher faces death sentence in China

A Filipina teacher is facing death sentence in China on charges of smuggling heroin, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday. The DFA said in a statement the Filipina — whose identity was not revealed — was convicted by the Municipal Intermediate People’s Court for carrying 1,996 grams of heroin concealed in a foil packet hidden under her checked-in suitcase. She was arrested at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport last October 2010, the DFA said. The case of the Filipina teacher will be elevated to the Guangdong High People’s Court “for automatic review," the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou told the DFA. The Filipina, who holds a legitimate alien employment permit, had been working in China since 2006. “The Filipina’s case discloses another instance of could-be drug mules indicating that even professionals are lured into said criminal activity due to the temptation of easy money," the DFA said. Drug-trafficking syndicates entice their victims by convincing them that by simply transporting “goods" from a jump-off country into China, large amount of money can be earned, it added. The consulate general reiterated its call to all Filipinos to avoid accepting offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggage in exchange for money, as harsh penalties await them in their destinations. Filipino job-seekers are urged to heed the Philippine government’s continuous warning about the operations of international drug-smuggling syndicates so as not to fall prey and suffer the consequences of violating the laws of other countries, the DFA said. The recent execution of three Filipinos for drug-smuggling showed the firm stance of the Chinese government in curbing international drug-smuggling. — JE, GMA News