China resets execution of 3 Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines – The government of China informed its Philippine counterpart late Friday of the suspension of next week’s execution of three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in Xiamen and Shenzhen.

In a meeting in Beijing, China’s State Councilor Dai Bingguo, together with Supreme People’s Court president Zhang Zhijun and Executive Vice Minister Zhang Zhijun, told Vice President Jejomar Binay of the postponement of the execution of the accused.

Two of the accused are detained in Xiamen after being arrested for smuggling 8,000 grams of heroin, while the other was nabbed for transporting 6,800 grams of the same drugs in Shenzen.

The Xiamen detainees are scheduled to die through lethal injections on February 21, while the Shenzen prisoner's execution was earlier slated on February 22.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it fully respects China’s law and verdict on the accused, while thanking the decision to suspend the execution.

The Chinese government however was silent on the implementation of the verdict, but cited that it is determined to work in the fight against transnational crimes, including drug trafficking.