DRUG MULES : A REACTION PAPER

China executes 3 Pinoy drug mules  (The Philippine Star) Updated March 30, 2011 09:34 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the whole nation’s prayers and pleadings, China today pushed through with the executions of three Filipinos convicted for drug smuggling.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was in the Middle East, announced the news during a television interview.

"Hindi po tayo tumigil sa ating pakiusap na kahit isa o dalawa man lang sa kanila ang maisalba. Pero ang malungkot dito, hindi na po tayo napagbigyan at in-execute na po ang ating tatlong kababayan," Binay said.

While he incessantly appealed for clemency for the three, he said the Chinese government was adamant on the request, insisting on the execution of the three convicted drug mules.

Binay said that Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, Ramon Credo and Elizabeth Batain were executed by lethal injection.

At past noon, Binay said in another television interview that the family of Villanueva has identified her body while Credo’s remains were to be cremated and the process will be over by 3 p.m.

He said he has yet to obtain information on Batain.

Villanueva, 32, was convicted for smuggling 4,110 grams of heroin on Dec. 24, 2008. Credo, 42, four days later was likewise convicted for smuggling a slightly bigger amount of heroin. Batain was sentenced to death on May 24 in the same year also for drug trafficking.

Source : http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=671284&publicationSubCategoryId=63

                Villanueva, Credo, and Batain were three Filipinos executed last March 30 in China for bringing drugs inside the country. They are only three of the many Filiipinoes caught around the world for being drug mules. An OFW said on a recent interview that some OFWs are recruited with a promised job of being a vendor. However, this is not the reality because they are made to smuggle drugs in China and in other countries. Some are made to swallow bags of drugs while others carry luggage with sewn bags of drug inside the pockets.

                Why would people risk their lives for this job? The answer is really simple, for money. People are paid about $4000 or P80,000 per trip. Who would not agree to this offer? Of course a lot of our country men would agree to do it because they can easily earn a large amount of money. They know the risk of what they will do but are still willing to take it for their families.

                I really feel bad for these people because they seem to value money more than their lives. They are willing to do anything just to earn. Money has really become a basic necessity or a commodity in our world today but is the value more than the happiness to be with your family? I guess people have already mixed their priorities in life. We have become more materialistic than ever. We seem to never be contented and always feel unsatisfied. We do not thank God for what we have but instead, we demand for more.

                The government must take this matter seriously. How many more lives must be sacrificed before they realize how severe the condition of the Philippines is? How many more Filipinoes must engage in these illegal activities before the government do something about poverty. The government must act now. They have to provide jobs for everyone. After all, they were elected by the people and for the people. They were placed in their positions for the welfare of the country. In the mean time, the government must ensure public awareness regarding this issue. They must educate the people about the modus of the syndicate so that Filipinoes will not be victims. The government must make the people understand the risk of taking such jobs. The people must realize that although the benefit is large, it is still not worth the cause – which in this case, their lives.