No word yet on Pinay’s execution

MANILA, Philippines - China has not sent notice to the Philippine government regarding the scheduled execution of a convicted Filipina drug mule, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said Consul General Charles Jose of the Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai reported they had not been informed of a specific date or time of execution.

“We have not yet received any specific date or time for the execution of our kababayan in Hangzhou, but it seems that is very imminent,” Hernandez said.

“I just talked to Consul General Charles Jose and he said he has not been informed of the date and time of execution. As of 2 p.m. (yesterday), we do not have any information about the execution,” he said.

As of 8 p.m. yesterday, there was no word from the Chinese government if the execution of the still unnamed convicted Filipina drug mule was carried out.

Hernandez said the seven-day period ends today after the Philippines received notice last June 27 that the 35-year-old Filipina will be executed.

“We do not exactly know whether today or tomorrow. They usually tell us before or after it is implemented,” he added.

Hernandez said the family of the convict, who hails from Navotas, had requested privacy after the DFA informed them of the decision of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) in Beijing affirming the death sentence on the Filipina for drug trafficking.

“The family requested privacy and we would like to honor that request. They have been asking there should be no naming of the Filipina to be executed,” he said.

Hernandez said Jose reported on Monday that the death sentence could be implemented “until July 3.”

The family of the Filipina, who arrived in Shanghai on Sunday, visited her at the detention center in Hangzhou on Monday at around 10 a.m.