Execution of Three Filipinos in China

"Death is not only an unusually severe punishment, unusual in its pain, in its finality and in its enormity, but it serves no penal purpose more effectively than a less severe punishment; therefore the principle inherent in the clause that prohibits pointless infliction of excessive punishment when less severe punishment can adequately achieve the same purposes invalidates the punishment."

March 30, Filipinos around the world were in grief for the death of three Filipinos in China namely; Ramon Credo, 42, Elizabeth Batain, 38, and Sally Villanueva, 32, who were convicted of drug trafficking last 2009. They were supposed to be executed last Feb. 20 and 21 but it was being hold after Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay went to China to ask mercy last Feb. 18. Philippine Government had gone to their great lengths to save the three for the execution. They made repeated appeals for their sentences will be commuted to life in jail. But, the Chinese Embassy confirmed that the three will be put into death on March 30. Chinese government began to snab appeals from the Philippines for the commution of sentences. A week before the execution, PNOY acknowledged that from the very start, the government was told that the hold of the punishment was just temporary and "WE HAVE TO CONFORM TO THEIR LAWS". Before the execution happened, the three were able to meet their families for the last time. They were only given one hour to talk to the three. Sadly, they were not able to give their pasalubongs from Phil. to the three for the authority prohibited it. When the day came, the three filipino drug mules were executed through a lethal injection at morning. At that time, news were focusing on their death and Filipinos sympathize for what happened.

Some said that the Government did not do their part in saving the life of those people. In my opinion, of course they did. It is just that, China has its own laws. Yes, it was really a bad news for us Filipinos that, to some extent, we should put on our minds that it is already in the law of China to execute the criminals and there's nothing we can do about it. Executing those Chinese drug smugglers in Philippines?? That would be okay but, we don't have laws like that. 227 Filipinos were in jail for the same case, DRUG TRAFFICKING. And, I don't think that they should be forgiven for what they have done because they came from poor families. I'm sorry to say that engaging to drug smuggling would make out from poverty. For me, the Government should focus on how come that those drugs were able to pass over the airport when there were X-rays for the luggages and passengers. Is there any member of the syndicate inside the airport? If there is, they should be convicted. All I can say is that we, Filipinos, should not allow ourselves to be one of those victims of International syndicates. R.I.P for the three. God Bless!