KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—Kidapawan Bishop Romulo Dela Cruz on Tuesday appealed for prayer power for the convicted Filipino drug trafficker scheduled for execution in China on December 8.
Dela Cruz said prayers might also be able to save the Filipino from the gallows even after Beijing had flatly rejected the government’s appeals for clemency or review of the verdict.
The convict, a 35-year-old man, was arrested in September 2008 allegedly trying to smuggle 1.5 kilograms of heroin into Guangxi province in southern China from Malaysia. He was convicted by the High People’s Court of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The sentence was affirmed by China’s Supreme People’s Court.
Dela Cruz said the power of prayers was previously tested when former overseas Filipino worker, May Vicena of Matalam, North Cotabato—who spent nearly two years in a Kuwait jail for the death of the son of her employer in 2007—was pardoned by the Kuwaiti Emir in 2009.
“The rays of hope are there,” Dela Cruz said in his appeal for the Filipino on death row in China.
The bishop said the date of the execution is the feast of the Virgin Mary and miracles could happen with prayers on that day.
“The power of prayers might convince the Chinese government to listen to the Philippines’ appeal for temporary suspension and review of the verdict …,” Dela Cruz said.
“I believe in the power of prayers. It could even move mountains so I am appealing to you to offer prayers for our fellow Filipino, who is facing difficult moments in China,” the bishop added.
Dela Cruz also said he had instructed priests and lay ministers in the Diocese of Kidapawan to offer masses and special prayers for the Filipino.
“Let us all unite our voices and ask God for mercy with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Pray) that miracle would happen and save our kababayan (compatriot) from execution,” he said.
During Sunday’s mass at the Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces cathedral here, Dela Cruz led the lighting of the second candle of the advent wreath, which he said symbolized life and hope for the coming of the Messiah. “May the light of the candles in the advent wreath serve as our hope and that the Chinese government will heed the appeal of our government,” he said.