PHL urges Malaysia to commute death sentences of 4 Pinoys

The Philippine government asked Malaysian authorities to commute the death sentences of four Filipinos in Sabah, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. The request was relayed to the Malaysian government by Philippine Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros, who will soon be replaced by Jose Eduardo Malaya III, DFA’s former spokesperson. According to the DFA, Lecaros handed the aide-memoire to North Borneo Governor Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar bin Haji Mahiruddin in Kota Kinabalu. “During their meeting, Lecaros handed over an aide-memoire seeking the commutation to life imprisonment of the sentences of four Filipinos whose capital punishment has been affirmed by the Malaysian Federal Court," the DFA said. The DFA did not name the four Filipinos facing the death penalty. Also, Lecaros discussed the welfare of Filipino maids in Malaysia during his farewell call on Malaysian House Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Seri Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia. “During their meeting, the House Speaker conveyed to Lecaros to take up the matter about Filipino maids in Malaysia when he goes home to Manila," the DFA said. The DFA also said Lecaros held farewell meetings with volunteer Filipino community leaders in North Borneo last July 5. — JE, GMA News