Three Filipinos were Executed in China

Three Filipino workers convicted of drug trafficking were executed by lethal injection in China on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.The three were identified as Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32, Elizabeth Batain, 38, and Ramon Credo, 42, the Philippines' GMA News reported. The executions were scheduled last month but were postponed after Philippine Vice President Jeomar Binay went to China to appeal for their case on behalf of the Philippine government. Now, after two months of reprieve, the Chinese government has finally enacted its verdict – the execution of three of our compatriots.

What can we possibly say about this execution? Let me reflect with you today of what I think about this whole incident. First of all, we as Filipinos sympathize with the families of the victims who were executed in China. Although their families were given a chance to see their loved ones just before the three were executed, but what good is that? When they found themselves at the edge of life, hopeless, grieving and could not do nothing more? When their appeals and cries landed on deaf ears and they had nowhere else to go? When even God himself seemed to have distanced himself from them and they could nowhere find Him? Every Filipino cries out with these families who are grieving because of their lost. We cry out and mourn with the families of the victims, not because we condone what the victims allegedly perpetrated, but for many of us – we don’t see them as “drug traffickers or drug pushers”, but simply “victims” of illegal drug traffickers. Being “drug traffickers and drug pushers” per se is quite different from being “victims” of real drug traffickers. Of course, we can never know what really happened. From the legal point of view, the Chinese government would defend their action and say that they were just following their law and constitution. Anyone who violates their laws would be meted out with the same penalty. My point of discussion is not about the content of their law or constitution. If that’s their law, fine. My question,however, is: Did they really make a real, honest and truthful investigation of the case? If they were really serious about the case, and if they intended to be objective and comprehensive in their investigation, as they should have done, then they should have really investigated even the background of these persons whom they executed. As we all know now, the three ‘pinoys’ did not come from a well-to-do family. They were ordinary Filipinos who just dreamt of giving their families a better future. In spite of the known- hardship of separation from their loved ones,they sacrificed everything, went to work in another country, hoping to find a job so they could help their families back home. But this dream just crumpled into ruins.Their recruiters, according to these three Filipinos, ‘used’ them to carry heroins to China. Whether they knew they were carrying some contraband drugs –no one could really say for certain. As an outsider but prudent observer, I could never imagine that Sally Ordinario, for example, a wife with two kids,would be branded as ‘drug trafficker’ per se? Of course, I am not discounting the fact that any person, whether poor or rich, can become a drug trafficker if he or she chooses to do so. I am aware that money can buy anything, even one’s soul. But let us be realistic and practical here. Could you really imagine a simple house wife like Sally Ordinario or Elizabeth Batain become real ‘drug pushers’ as they were branded upon by the Chinese government? Either they were desperate to do anything (because of the glare of money), or they were simply dumb and crazy. I will stand by their statements that they were just used by drug traffickers to transport the contraband drugs (or heroin). I refuse to accept that they were in a state of desperation to do anything because they had their families and children to think about. It’s my honest opinion that executing these three ‘pinoys’ were a damned mistake. I refuse to accept that they were the real culprits. That is why, the Philippine Government should exhaust all its resources to go after the real drug pushers and drug traffickers in the country who continue to pry on fellow Filipinos, and use them for these illegal trades. Again, we should not stop our campaign against these illegal traders. We should continue to warn our nationals and overseas workers never to engage in such illegal activities. Otherwise, they will eventually pay a very high price like these three pinoys who were executed in China.

This brings me to another point of discussion. I would like to ask: to what extent did the Philippine government had helped and assisted, if they did at all, these three Filipinos in their ordeal? I heard on the news and read on the papers about the Philippine Government assisting the families of the accused going to China at the eleventh hour? I heard as well about some Philippine lawyers assisting the accused at their trial. My point of interest is not so much what the Philippine Government did at the last hour. But the point of discussion is– were the accused assisted from the very beginning of their trial, or just when the Media started to publicize their case? What help did the accused had gotten from the Philippine Government – at the beginning of the trial, during the trial, and at the completion of the case? As Filipino citizens, the accused individuals should have gotten all the necessary help they needed to win their case. I hate to say that in a number of instances, the Philippine Government would come to the aid of such individuals only at the eleventh hour. Take the case of the Filipinos who needed to be evacuated from Libya and other Arab countries in turmoil, the help from our government came too late. Then, about two days ago, there was a news on TFC (The Filipino Channel) about a Filipina in Dubai who was abducted, jailed and raped. But nobody had ever assisted her – not even the Philippine Government, until recently, when the case was publicized in the media. Why is that? In my observation, there seems to be a lack of concern, interest, or political will, from the part of the Philippine Government to follow up cases such as these mentioned. If this is so, then this is a real set back. First of all, this negates the very essence and role of government. That the government exists and subsists to protect its citizenry. And also, it sheds a bad light on the image of the President of the Republic. This just shows that the President lacks the ability to run the government as he should. Maybe it’s time again to evaluate whether our government is doing its job or not.

I’d like to pose some concerns I have towards the Chinese government. Yes, the Chinese Government executed three of our compatriots because they found them allegedly to have violated the Chinese laws and constitution. In their case, the three Filipinos were convicted of drug trafficking – and the penalty was death. Out of curiosity, if those convicted were not Filipinos, say they were Americans or British, would the Chinese Government have had the muscle to execute them as well? How many drug traffickers from the US, Britain, or France have China executed so far? Do their laws apply for everyone, or do they apply only to poor people from third world countries? I am just curios. Also, I know that China is one of the countries which has the worse records as far as violation of human rights is concerned. No wonder, killing its own people like what happened at Tianenmen square some few years back, or enacting capital punishment like death penalty,are just some manifestation of this. In my opinion, it’s time for governments to abolish death penalty.

I’d like to address myself to all our compatriots especially those who are working abroad. I hope that what happened to our three “kababayans” who were executed in China would serve as a lesson for everyone. I hope, by now, you are smart to know that if you are caught dealing or exporting contraband drugs, you could possibly be meted out with the same punishment – which is death. Don’t risk your life and fate by engaging in these illegal activities. There are more important things in life than money. Think about your family, your life, and your many sacrifices. Dealing such illegal trades, or letting yourself being used as a “mule” by drug traffickers is not worth it. For those who are engaged in these illegal trades,we earnestly ask you to think twice. Our law enforcements are running after you.

At this time, as we mourn with the family of our three compatriots who were executed in China, we would like as well to commend Sally, Elizabeth and Ramon to your prayers. We pray for the repose of their souls. May they rest in peace.