MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) – Vice President Jejomar Binay hopes that the Filipino scheduled to be executed in China on December 8 will be able to spend Christmas with his family.“Baka naman, hopefully, masabing Christmas gift na sa pamilya, sana makapag-Pasko lamang yung tao,” Binay said.
Binay hopes to receive word from Beijing soon to travel to China and appeal the case of the Filipino convicted of drug trafficking.
“As of this time, we have not received an official communication from the Chinese foreign ministry. Ngunit hangga’t hindi pa nangyayari ang pagbitay, hindi dapat tayo mawalan ng pag-asa,” Binay said.
The 35 year old Filipino was arrested last September 13, 2008 at the Guilin International Airport in southern China. Authorities discovered 1.495 kilos of heroin in his possession.
Once Binay receives confirmation for the trip, he will be bring the letter of appeal of President Aquino addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao.
“Should Beijing agree to my visit, I will be personally carrying the original letter of the President. What was given to the Chinese ambassador Wednesday was a copy of the letter,” he said.
The Vice President, who is also the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, earlier appealed to the media not to publish the name of the convicted Pinoy for his mother’s sake.
“Yung mother niya suffered a stroke last year and matutuluyan yan kapag nalaman niya,” said Binay.
Binay also appealed to the public to pray for the convicted Filipino and his family.
“Dagdagan pa natin ang dasal. Ang Disyembre 8 ay Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Magdasal tayo na sana ay pagpalain tayo ng isang milagro sa araw na iyon,” he said.
The Pinoy is set to be executed on December 8.
He likewise thanked the public and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for their continued support through prayers in the appeal for a commutation of the sentence.
“Nakatakdang sumulat ang Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) para hilingin ang pagpapababa ng sintensya sa ating kababayan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda also issued the same appeal for prayers for the convicted Pinoy and his family.
"This is a most difficult time for the family and I ask every Filipino to pray for our countryman. The family has requested for privacy and the least we can do right now is to respect their wishes," Legarda said.
Legarda likewise reiterated that the Department of Foreign Affairs has exhausted all possible means to extend assistance to the convicted Pinoy.
“Ultimately, the decision is the result of law enforcement and the administration of justice by another country. We need to respect that. The matter is now beyond our hands," Legarda said. With ANC
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