Filipino Drug Traffickers Granted a Stay

Drug trafficking is taken seriously in the U.S., but in some foreign countries, it’s grounds for execution. According to CNN.com, Philippines Vice President Jejomar Binay traveled to Beijing in mid-February to appeal to the Chinese government for clemency for three Filipinos set to be executed a week later for drug trafficking. The three in question were arrested in 2008 and have already been convicted of drug trafficking in China, a crime that is punishable in that country by death.

An Appeal for Filipino Drug Traffickers

Binay arrived in China carrying a letter from President Benigno Aquino III asking for clemency for the three Filipinos on humanitarian grounds, according to Filipino media reports. In a public statement before his departure, Binay said, “We do not condone drug trafficking. However, we believe that these Filipinos were merely victims of international drug syndicates. I carry with me the prayers of the Filipino people that clemency could be granted on humanitarian grounds.”

The personal appeal apparently worked – at least for now. China has decided to "postpone the execution within the scope of the Chinese law," the two nations said in a joint statement after Binay met with Wang Shengjun, president of China’s Supreme People's Court (SPC) and senior foreign policy officials.

"The Philippine side stated that it fully respects China's law and the verdict of the SPC," the statement continued. "The Philippines and China are determined to work together in the fight against transnational crimes. Including drug trafficking."

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