3 Pinoys unaware of scheduled executions tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines – The three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in China are not aware that their executions have been set for tomorrow, a Philippine embassy official said today.

“Bukas pa lang nila malalaman na ang execution ay tuluy na tuloy na,” Noel Novicio, consul of the Philippine post in Xiamen City, said in a radio interview today.

He said that the three Filipinos -- Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva -- are only aware that their executions last February 20 and February 21 have been suspended by the Supreme People’s Court of China.

They will only be informed that the death sentences will be carried out “only tomorrow,” Novicio said.

He said that the promulgation of the executions of the three Filipino nationals will start 9:40 a.m. tomorrow.

“Di pa nila alam na ang sentence laban sa kanila ay pinagtibay na. Bukas pa lang nila malalaman,” he said.

In a press conference, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Eduardo Malaya said that the three Filipinos will meet their families before the promulgation.

Malaya said that Credo and Villanueva will be with their families for at least an hour at the Xiamen detention house while Batain will meet her family at the Shenzhen detention house.

Enciso, meanwhile, said it was not sure whether the execution will be carried out right after the promulgation or a few hours after.

He said that embassy officials are now preparing for the last and final meeting between the three and their respective families tomorrow.

“Inaayos na natin ang kanilang pagkikita,” he said.

Enciso, meanwhile, said that the Philippine government is exerting last ditch efforts to save the lives of the three Filipinos. “’Di po tayo tumitigil para mabigyan sila ng clemency.”

He said that the Philippine embassy in China is already preparint for the repatriatio nof the remains of the three Filipinos in case the executions are carried out tomorrow.

Credo and Villanueva will be executed through lethal injection in Xiamen, while Batain will be in Shenzhen.

Last letter

Meantime, Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a radio interview that early today, he sent another letter to the Chinese embassy in an effort to save three Filipinos.

"I've sent another letter this morning to the Chinese embassy," Binay said.

He said that the Philippine government, through his office, will not stop pleading for the life of the three Filipinos up to the last minute before the execution.

Binay said that he reiterated in his letter the case of Villanueva, who has executed an affidavit insisting that she was tricked by a fellow Filipino into smuggling more than 4000 grams of heroin to China in December 24, 2008.

He said that the affidavit shows that Villanueva is just a victim and she does not deserve a death penalty.

Meanwhile, members of migrants group Migrante International continued prayer vigils in Metro Manila and other offices abroad for the three Filipinos.

The group has also scheduled more prayer vigils and protest actions on the day of the executions.

No final word from Beijing

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, meanwhile, denied earlier reports that the Chinese government had already rejected the final plea the Philippines for the clemency or the stay of execution of the three Filipino drug mules.

“Chinese embassy last night said that there is still no final word from Beijing. While the execution has not been carried out, we will still hope,” he said.

Despite the limitation of the Philippine government, the Palace still hopes that China would postpone the execution of the three Filipinos.

Even with the pending executions, Lacierda said that the Philippine government is committed to working with Chinese authorities in curving drug trafficking.

“The thrust right now between China and the Philippines is to have greater coordination in terms of drug trafficking and that’s important for us,” he said.

“So ‘yun po ang thrust ngayon to make sure that these things will not happen again. That we make sure that we stop altogether the drug trafficking between China and the Philippines,” he added.