The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the execution of two Filipino nationals in China for drug trafficking offenses on November 24. The announcement, respecting the privacy and wishes of the families, came following formal notification of the execution from Chinese authorities.
The DFA expressed sincere condolences to the families and noted that the individuals were arrested in 2013 and convicted in 2016. The Philippine government made extensive efforts to appeal to Chinese authorities for the commutation of their sentences to life imprisonment on humanitarian grounds. Despite these appeals, the Chinese government upheld the convictions, citing their internal laws.
In response to this event, the DFA issued a reminder to all Filipinos traveling overseas to be vigilant of drug syndicates’ recruitment methods. The Philippine government continues to support its nationals abroad, but ultimately, the laws and decisions of foreign countries prevail in such cases.