None of this 10, 20 or even 30 years on death row nonsense in China.
THREE FILIPINOS, MOTHER-OF-TWO AND TWO MEN, EXECUTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING IN CHINA
Mail Online
March 31, 2011
China has executed three Filipinos convicted of drug smuggling despite last-minute appeals for leniency, officials said.
Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Ramon Credo were only told of their death sentence on the day they were executed and were only allowed to meet with their families for one hour before the sentence was carried out.
Maylene Ordinario, Sally's sister, said she had told her two children to 'finish their studies' and asked the Philippine government to provide for their education.
She said: 'They gave us only one hour with her. They have no mercy.
'She asked us to take care of her children, to take care of each other and to help one another.
'I have not accepted what will happen. We are forcing ourselves to accept it, but I can't.'
Philippine Consul Noel Novicio said Ordinario-Villanueva and Ramon Credo were executed by lethal injection in Xiamen city in southeastern China.
The third Filipino, Elizabeth Batain, was allowed to meet with her relatives hours ahead of her execution in Shenzhen city.
Neighbours, relatives and activists held overnight vigils and the Roman Catholic Church held a special Mass in Manila.
The three were arrested separately in 2008 carrying packages containing at least 8lbs of heroin. They were convicted and sentenced in 2009.
The Philippine government's appeals for clemency included three letters from President Benigno Aquino III and a February visit to Beijing by the vice president, which prompted China to postpone the executions for a month.
Jayson Ordinario, Sally's younger brother, said last week that his sister was hired as a mobile phone dealer in Xiamen and was tricked into carrying a bag that had a secret compartment loaded with heroin.
Mr Aquino said the three could be considered victims of unscrupulous recruiters and drug traffickers.
He said: 'Our ultimate goal is to create a situation where people are not pressured to resort to these things, where they can find enough gainful employment in the Philippines.'
China Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu said: 'In China, our judicial authorities handled the case independently and we grant equal treatment to foreign drug traffickers.
'China has fulfilled its international obligations in the process.'
Smuggling more than 50 grams of heroin or other drugs is punishable by death in China.
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