Philippines mourns after the Execution of 3 Pinoys in China

The whole Filipino nation is still mourning after the three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking were executed in China today. Despite the public appeals made by the Philippine government and the various pleas from different international organizations, the Chinese government remained firm with its decision to subject the Filipino convicts to lethal injection.

In 2008, Elizabeth Batain, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Ramon Credo were caught smuggling several kilograms of heroin each in China where they have also been detained for a couple of years. Solid in its policy against illegal drugs, China as a communist country holds on to its law that the trafficking of at least 50 grams of any illicit drug is punishable by death. Fact is there have been many Chinese nationals and other foreigners who suffered the same fate. Thus, many believed that it was indeed a more hopeless case for the three Filipinos. And truly it was!

"It is a sad day for us, up to the last minute we were doing everything we can to postpone the execution," Vice-President Jejomar Binay said in a radio interview from Qatar. The Vice-President sent an appeal on Tuesday asking to keep the three Filipinos alive. However, his request was not granted. It could be remembered that he flew to Beijing in February and gained a brief delay of the death sentences.

The three suffered their execution today, March 30, 2011. Elizabeth Batain, 38, was executed by lethal injection at a prison in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32, and Ramon Credo, 42, were executed in the port city of Xiamen.

Earlier today, their family members were allowed to visit them as prayer vigils and masses were held in the Philippines.