BEIJING, March 29, 2011 (AFP) - China on Tuesday defended the planned executions of three Filipinos on drug trafficking charges, as special masses were held in the Philippines for the trio."In China, our judicial authorities handled the cases independently and we grant equal treatment to foreign drug traffickers," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
"The rights and treatment of the individuals involved have been ensured and safeguarded in accordance to law. China has fulfilled its international obligations in the process."
Ramon Credo, 42, Sally Villanueva, 32, and Elizabeth Batain, 38, are due to be put to death on Wednesday after Chinese authorities rejected Philippine appeals for clemency.
The Philippine government had insisted that the three, who are among 227 Filipinos jailed in China for drug offences, were from poor families and had been duped by international crime syndicates into becoming drug couriers.
It had heavily lobbied Chinese authorities to spare the lives of the trio, and Vice President Jejomar Binay was even sent to Beijing last month on a mercy mission.
Chinese authorities briefly postponed the executions due to his visit, but later announced that they would still go ahead.
Executions in China have traditionally been carried out by shooting. But increasingly, lethal injections are being used.
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