Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Binay confirms that 3 Pinoys in China were executed.


Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay confirmed to ANC news anchors that the 3 Filipino drug mules have been executed in China before noontime Wednesday, March 30, 2011. Binay did not give details as how the executions were carried out.

“Malungkot na araw… Patay na po ‘yung tatlong kababayan natin,” Binay said in an interview over GMA News TV.

Earlier, Noel Novicio, consul of the Philippine post in Xiamen City, said convicted Filipinos Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain were brought to a “private place” where they will be executed after they were read their death sentence at 9:40 a.m. (Manila time).

“After promulgation, dinala sila sa isang pribadong lugar upang isakatuparan ang final na hatol,” he said in an interview over GMA News TV.

The three Filipinos — Credo, 42; Batain, 38; and Villanueva, 32 — were originally scheduled to be executed last February 20 and 21.

The executions were put on hold following the humanitarian visit to Beijing of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns.

The Supreme People’s Court of China affirmed the death sentences on the three last February 11. Binay went to Beijing upon orders from President Benigno Aquino III on Feb. 18.

Ordinario-Villanueva was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on Dec. 24, 2008 into Xiamen, while Credo was convicted for smuggling 4,113 grams of heroin on Dec. 28, 2008 in Xiamen.

Batain, meanwhile, was convicted for smuggling 6,800 grams of heroin on May 24, 2008, in Shenzhen.

Under the Chinese criminal code, smuggling of 50 grams of heroin or any narcotic drug into China is punishable by death. – VVP, GMA News

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