The government is “exhausting other means” to have Vice President Jejomar Binay make a case in behalf of the Filipino in death row in China for drug trafficking.
In an interview with dzRB, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacanang respects the decision of China to thumb down Binay’s “mercy mission.”
However, “our diplomatic channels are still there. We can still exhaust those. We will continue our discussions with embassy officials to be able to convey our appeal on humanitarian and compassionate grounds,” she said when asked what Malacanang could still do.
The 35-year-old Filipino is scheduled to be executed on December 8 after he was caught trying to smuggle 1.5 kilos of heroin into China in 2008.
Meanwhile, the family of the Filipino set to be executed called on the public to pray for them as they face a big challenge in their lives.
They appealed for understanding on why they chose not to answer queries from the media since they want to protect their sick mother.
Through OFW advocate Susan Ople, one of the sisters of the convicted Filipino said: "Iparating niyo na lang po sa kanila na tulungan ang aming pamilya sa pagdarasal at hinihingi pa rin po namin ang privacy para po sa aming nanay. Marami pong salamat."
Ople said the family is “deeply grateful to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and to those who continue to offer prayers for their brother.”
They also thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Binay for their continued assistance and guidance.
Meanwhile, the Ople Center, a non-profit organization engaged in labor and migration concerns, asked the Philippine government “to declare an all-out war against international drug rings that recruit Filipinos to act as drug mules.”
It also urged the government to closely monitor the death row cases involving Filipinos around the world.
