Drug Mules get Lethal Injection

The "injection room" at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Rockview, Centre County

The Supreme People’s Court of China convicted and executed three Filipinos of drug trafficking in Xiamen and Shen Zhen China through lethal injection. The three were Elisabeth Batain, who was caught in 2008 in possession of more than 4,000 grams of heroin; Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Ramon Credo, who were both caught in 2009 for the same offense.

March 30, 2011 was a sad day for their families and for the Philippines as well. The government tried to exert political influence to abate the execution but China was firm. The family of Ordinario said that the Chinese authorities were cruel for not letting Sally have a last chance to talk to her children over the phone.

 The NGO Migrante passed the blame to the Philippine government for laxity in the handling of the said cases. They argued that the failure of the government in providing employment for its people had been the reason why Filipinos opt to try their luck overseas, which often lead them to more suffering.

One radio commentator said that poverty had been forcing us to seek greener pasture outside the country but it should not be enough reason for us to grab unlawful opportunities.

Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr., Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said that the Philippines had not been known as a heroin producing country. He suspected that these “drug mules” were recruited here to go to a particular point of destination and from there take the heroin bodily to certain places like China. He believed that there could be innocent recruits but he also believed that most of these were willing victims in exchange for money.

There are still 76 Filipinos in death row in China, who have received 2 years reprieve. I hope their efforts for appeal would be successful.

Image Above Courtesy of:

http://www.post-gazette.com/nation/20021127amendment_8p9.asp