03/30/2011 | 11:48 AM
Three Filipinos who were convicted of drug trafficking in China have been executed, Vice President Jejomar Binay announced Wednesday. "Malungkot na araw... Patay na po 'yung tatlong kababayan natin," Binay said in an interview over GMA News TV.
Two convicted Filipinos, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Ramon Credo, were subjected to lethal injections in Xiamen, while Elizabeth Batain was executed in Shenzhen — all the executions occurred after the convicts were read their death sentence at 9:40 a.m. (Manila time).
Binay, however, said he did not know what time the actual execution took place. "Di ko alam basta ito ay official pronouncement na patay na ang tatlo (I don't know. The only official pronouncement was that they have been executed)
He added that the government has yet to formulate plans on the repatriation of the remains of the three. Binay is in Qatar to engage in talks with labor officials over the situation of OFWs there.
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.
“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 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 the same city. 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.
-complete article at GMA News TV
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