China Executes Filipino of Drug Trafficking
Category: News Published on Thursday, 08 December 2011 13:39 Written by Pinoy News Staff Writer Hits: 440
BEIJING--- a 35-year old Filipino drug trafficker was sentence to death this Thursday by a lethal injection in south China’s Guangxi province. He met briefly with two siblings and two cousins who travelled to be with him before his execution said Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay to reporters inManila.
“The subject was very calm, but his family was crying,” Binay said. “At 12:30 (p.m.) our countryman was executed.” He was given last rites and last communion added Binay.
The unnamed person was caught in 2008 traveling with 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) of heroin from Malaysia to smuggle it to China. Smuggling more than 1.76 ounces (50 grams) of heroin or other drugs is punishable by death inChina.
In a news briefing inChina, Chinese Foreign spokesman Hong Lei said that they are following the law in handling this case. President Aquino asked for clemency before the execution but acknowledges that he respects China’s judicial system and the relationship of the two countries will not be hurt. The Philippines has no death penalty. It was abolished in 2006.
The San Francisco-based human rights group Dui Hua Foundation estimated China executed 5,000 people in 2009 although China refuses to give the exact amount.
Reactions in the streets of Manila are mixed. Some said that crime must be punished and others said that China’s punishment is harsh and that this should serve as a lesson to all.