Execution of Pinay drug mule in China may be 'very imminent'

The execution of a female Filipino drug courier who smuggled large quantities of heroin in China may be "very imminent," the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.

If the execution pushes through, she would be the fifth Filipino drug mule to be punished by death through lethal injection in China. China executed two Filipino women and two men for drug trafficking in 2011.

"We have not yet received any specific date or time for the execution of our kababayan in Hangzhou but it seems that it is very imminent," Hernandez told a press briefing.

The Filipino, who entered China from Dubai through a connecting flight in Hong Kong was apprehended at the Hangzhou International Airport on January 25, 2011 after authorities found 6.198 kilos in her luggage. She was arrested with a male Filipino companion – a cousin – who was caught carrying 6.171 kilos of heroin.

"We don't know if we will be informed before or after (the execution)," Hernandez said. "There are cases that we were informed before and there were cases that it happened right after the visit of the family of the accused."

In China alone, there are a total of 213 drug-related cases involving Filipino nationals. Of this figure, 28 resulted in death penalty convictions with 2 year reprieve, 67 in life imprisonment and 107 termed imprisonment while 10 are still pending in courts.

A person caught in possession of illegal drugs in the amount of more than 50 grams is meted the death penalty in China if convicted.

The Philippine government said it respects China's decision, but hopes it would heed its appeal to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment.

President Benigno S. Aquino III appealed to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping through a letter on June 27 to spare the Filipino's life. China has yet to respond to Aquino's request. (PNA)