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| A screen grab from ABS-CBN news shows one of the five Filipinos on death row |
THE Philippine government is looking into the case of five Filipinos who may be executed in China this month for drug-related offenses.
Secretary Herminio Coloma, one of President Aquino’s spokesmen, appealed not to link the issue with the hostage-taking incident on Aug. 23 wherein eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.
“I think the [Foreign Affairs department] is closely monitoring the situation and would like to avail itself of available diplomatic channels that would ensure a fair and just treatment of our Filipino nationals,” Coloma said.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. said that though the decision on the case of two of the Filipinos is final, the Philippine government is continuing its high-level intercession to save them.
The five Filipinos – four women and a man – were recently sentenced to death without reprieve. Two of the five cases have been brought before the People’s Supreme Court in Beijing for review.
“We respect the laws of China but we appeal to them for humanitarian reasons that they be saved from the death penalty,” Conejos said, adding that the decision was handed down prior to the Manila hostage crisis.
Report from Philippine Star
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