27 Filipinos on death row in Malaysia, but…

Philippine Ambassador Jose Eduardo Malaya III says at least 27 Filipinos are on death row in Malaysia but a moratorium on executions has been imposed since 2013. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — At least 27 Filipinos convicted of illegal drugs are on death row here, a top Philippine diplomat said on Wednesday.

But Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Eduaro Malaya III said none of the Filipinos were scheduled for execution as of now.

“In 2013, there was an informal moratorium on executions in Malaysia,” he told reporters at the Philippine embassy here.

Malaya said eight of the 27 drug convicts had been given commutation and would serve life sentence instead.

In Malaysia, executions are done through hanging.

The envoy said the numbers of Filipinos in the death row declined, citing that many are now afraid to be involved in the illegal drug trade because of reports of Filipinos being executed in other countries. JE