MANILA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine government urged its citizens to take the case of a Filipino drug mule who was sentenced to death Wednesday in China as a lesson and avoid cooperating with drug syndicates in future.
Philippine Deputy Presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Wednesday that agreeing to become drug mules would become a burden and cause of concern for their families who are left behind in the Philippines, instead of helping them.
The 35-year-old Filipino woman, whose identity was withheld by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in deference to her family 's request for privacy, was executed Wednesday morning by lethal injection in Hangzhou, east China, after she smuggled 6.19 kilos of heroin in 2011.
"It is with profound sadness that we confirm that our fellow Filipino was executed in China this morning. Arrangements for the repatriation of the remains are being undertaken," Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a press briefing.
"We renew our call on our countrymen to avoid involvement with drug syndicates. Drug trafficking is a criminal act in the Philippines and all over the world. The life of every Filipino is valuable and we pray that this is the last time that a tragedy like this befalls any of our countrymen," Hernandez said.
There are a total of 213 drug-related cases involving Filipino nationals in China. Of this figure, 28 resulted in death penalty convictions with 2 year reprieve, 67 in life imprisonment and 107 termed imprisonment while 10 are still pending in courts.
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