Binay’s China trip cancelled

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay has cancelled a trip to China to personally appeal for the life of a Filipino citizen on death row, after China said it is “not a convenient time” to go.

“This Saturday (June 29), I was informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has sent word that now would not be a convenient time for me to visit China. Sa madaling salita, hindi ito ang panahon para ako ay pumunta sa China,” Binay said in a statement Sunday, June 30.

“I am sad… that China has chosen to take this position regarding my visit. Given this development, I am left with no option but to cancel my trip to China,” he said.

“Inuulit ko lang na kinikilala natin ang batas ng China. Hindi natin kinukwestiyon ang hatol sa ating kababayan. I wanted to go China to personally appeal for compassion,” the Vice President said.

(I repeat that we recognize China’s laws. We are not questioning the verdict.)

“Humihingi po ako ng dasal para sa ating kababayan, gayundin para sa kanyang pamilya,” he added.

(I am asking for prayers for our kababayan, as well as for her family.)

Binay was earlier asked by President Benigno Aquino III and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to head to Beijing to deliver the President’s letter addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“While the President respects the ruling  of the Supreme People’s Court of China, his decision  to make an ultimate appeal to chinese President Xi Jinping  is consistent with his  commitment to assist and protect Filipino nationals abroad,” the statement said.

The DFA earlier said that the Filipino, whom it did not identify, will face the death penalty any time between Thursday and Tuesday, July 2.

Aquino’s letter asks China to commute the sentence, citing humanitarian reasons.

China’s Supreme People’s Court affirmed on Wednesday a lower court’s decision sentencing the Filipino to death. She was convicted for smuggling 6.198 kilos of heroin in China.

The DFA said the woman “has been going back and forth” from Dubai, Hong Kong and China up to 18 times from 2008 to 2011, and earned up to P3 million when she was apprehended.

This is not the first time Binay is heading to Beijing to appeal for the lives of Filipinos on death row. In 2011, he also went to China to appeal for Filipinos Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain.

China then ordered a stay of execution but later carried out the death sentence. – With reports from Ayee Macaraig/Rappler.com