Amnesty International (AI) has joined calls for China to stop the execution of a Filipino convicted of drug trafficking, and to delist “nonlethal offenses” from the crimes punishable by death.
“We express serious concern that China scheduled another execution of a person convicted of a nonlethal crime such as drug trafficking which contravenes international law,” AI Philippines director Aurora Parong said, calling on China to stop the execution.
The Supreme People’s Court in Beijing recently upheld the death penalty on a 35-year-old Filipino caught smuggling 1.5 kilograms of heroin at the airport in Guangxi in September 2008. The drug convict, who had flown to China from Malaysia, is scheduled to be executed on Dec. 8.
President Aquino has appealed to China for the commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment.
The Chinese government, however, has said the decision was “final and executory.” Beijing also said it was unable to arrange the requested visit by Vice President Jejomar Binay to personally carry Mr. Aquino’s letter appealing for clemency on behalf of the Filipino convict’s family.
Beijing, however, said it was willing to assist family members who may wish to visit the convict before the execution.
AI Philippines recalled that China executed three Filipinos convicted of drug smuggling in March this year. “We call on the authorities in China to stop the execution and remove nonlethal offenses from the list of crimes that merit the death sentence,” Parong said.
The executed Filipinos were identified as Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain. The current death convict has requested the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to withhold his name.
According to AI, China lists 55 offenses that carry the death penalty but the exact number of executions remains a secret. The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed resolutions which state that the scope of application of the death penalty should not go beyond intentional crimes with lethal consequences, AI said.
Appeal to other countries
Parong asked President Aquino to appeal to other Asian leaders to abolish the death penalty, which AI said was cruel and inhumane, and did not deter crime.
“We call on our government to apply stricter rules on drugs within the country and the airports and generate more decent jobs so that Filipinos will have options to earn income for their families. We call on President Aquino to convince leaders of neighboring countries, particularly in Asia, to take efforts towards the abolition of the death penalty—this will be a great legacy in human rights,” she said.
Asian countries which impose the death penalty in law and practice include Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam and North Korea, according to AI.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the National Bureau of Investigation are hunting down the recruiter of the 35-year-old Filipino drug courier sentenced to die in China.
PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. said the unidentified Filipino had named the recruiter allegedly belonging to an African syndicate who introduced him to the smuggling trade.
“The convict told us who the recruiter was,” Gutierrez told reporters on Saturday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has released a statement saying “We respect Chinese law and the verdict of the SPC on this case.”
The DFA statement said Beijing had already informed the Philippine government that the verdict of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) was “final and executory.”
The DFA has “also been informed that Beijing is unable to arrange the (proposed) visit of Vice President Jejomar Binay to China at this time,” said Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson.
Hernandez, however, said “we’re still hoping that Vice President Binay will be allowed by the Chinese government to go to Beijing to personally hand the letter of appeal of President Aquino and to request for commutation of sentence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.”
Binay, meanwhile, said in a statement that he remained “optimistic.”
Humanitarian grounds
“I feel that Beijing has not totally closed its door to my visit. As far as the judicial process is concerned, the decision is deemed final. But we are pursuing our appeal on humanitarian grounds and the passionate plea of the (convict’s) family for compassion,” he added.
According to Hernandez, the Chinese government had promised to “do everything to assist the family of the convicted Philippine national,” now jailed at the Guilin Detention House.
“Four family members (of the convict) are going to China. But no definite date yet for their departure,” he said earlier in a text message to the Inquirer.
On Friday, Ethan Sun Yi, deputy chief of the political section and spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City said “the Chinese side stands ready to render as much assistance as possible to the inmate’s family members who are traveling to China soon.”
Sun disclosed “the Chinese side and the Philippine side have been staying in close contact with each other.”
“The Philippine side expressed its concern and the Chinese side stated its position,” he said.
On Thursday, a sister and another close relative of the convict went to see Binay to ask for help.
Postponement request
“They expressed hope the Vice President would be able to help them request for a postponement of the execution, if not the commutation of the convict’s sentence. The Vice President told them the government will exhaust all avenues to seek a reprieve and commutation of sentence… (and to) continue praying,” said Joey Salgado, Binay’s media officer.
The other day, Binay said “should Beijing agree to my visit, I will be personally be carrying the original letter of (President Aquino)” to his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao.
According to Binay, “What was given to (Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao) on Wednesday was a copy of the letter.”
“We are telling China that our government recognizes the primacy of the law of China and the strong relationship between our two countries,” Binay said in Filipino. “Like China, the Philippines stands against illegal drugs. With reports from DJ Yap and Jerry Esplanada