Three drug mules, three blind mice?

In the aftermath of the March 30, 2011 execution of three Filipinos in China convicted of illegal drug trafficking and smuggling, debates are still raging on whether the three, the first ever Filipinos ever to be handed the death sentence in China or a foreign land, were really “biyaheros “(regular illegal drug couriers) or innocent victims of an international drug syndicates preying on unsuspecting travelers.
The three, Sally Ordinario Villanueva, 32, Ramon Credo.42 and Elizabeth Batain, 38 were caught separately in 2008 at the Chinese airport in Xiamen carrying packages containing heroin, a very expensive drug of abuse that nets millions of dollars for drug syndicates.
A carrier or a “drug mule “is paid at least $2,000 to $10,000 per transaction or trip. So it’s no wonder why some of our kababayans abroad are tempted by this easy big money.
Their execution, originally scheduled last February , was temporary halted after representations by the Philippine government but later was carried out ,March 30 with finality as the Chinese Supreme Court made its firm decision.
Families of the three dead Filipinos professed their innocence to the end but among the three, it was reported that Ramon Credo had a previous history of
Illegal drug use or pushing.
There are at least 500 or more Filipinos languishing in foreign jails on
alleged illegal drug-related charges most of them on trafficking.
The illicit drug trade in Southeast Asia particularly among the ASEAN nations (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) that include the Philippines Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Myanmar among others is a huge social and economic problem.
Thus, the region has one of the toughest and harshest drug laws worldwide
with the death sentence as the ultimate punishment for somebody caught with the maximum amount of illegal drugs in his person.
The handing down of the death penalty to Villanueva, Batain and Credo was therefore in accordance with China’s resolve to combat the nagging drug problem. China is one of the favorite destinations of illegal drugs for international syndicates which are composed of powerful international groups like the Hong Kong Triad, The Colombians and the West African syndicate which had already infiltrated the Philippines and established local counterparts in many provinces with recruiters and other personnel
in its crime ring operations.
Some of these West African nationals have even married locals to legalize their stay in the country and to spot more “drug mules “to be employed.
Among ASEAN nations, Malaysia has the severest “Anti-Dadah “law (Dadah is Malaysian for illegal drug). It prescribes the death sentence for drug traffickers if you were carrying at least half an ounce of heroin or at least seven ounces of marijuana.
Singapore on the other hand. imposes a mandatory death penalty on mere possession of at least half an ounce of heroin, at least one ounce of morphine or cocaine. Between 1991 and 2004, Singapore had hanged at least 400 people.
Vietnam has also strict anti-drug laws sending some 85 people to their deaths in 2007.
The Philippines has also one of the strictest anti-drug laws in the region being one of the initiators of the ASEAN Declaration of ASEAN Concord of February 1976 which include among others anti-drug laws but has imposed a moratorium on the death penalty. In 1972, Lim Seng, a drug lord, was executed by a firing squad televised nationwide during the early days of martial rule. He was the only person to die on illegal drug-related charges
Under Philippine laws.
But ironically, while the Philippines has made successful inroads on “demand and supply reduction “ and law enforcement operations, it had a dismal record of convictions due to massive corruptions among some law enforcements personnel, the judiciary and other government officials.
For instance, while dedicated law officers have made big drug busts recently and caught several big bosses and manufacturers of “shabu “ or methamphetamines, corrupt judges and court personnel let them loose after receiving big bribes.
And the sad thing about the Villanueva, Credo and Batain executions were
the perceptions of some that Philippine government officials have made
“political and emotional “propaganda out of this tragedy and have allegedly “sainted three illegal drug criminals “by rewarding their families with scholarships and other perks. In short, the three were treated as heroes notwithstanding the fact that they were convicted criminals.
One said “are they sending the wrong signal that a person caught with illegal drugs and transporting them to another country to wreck young people’s lives” is worth emulating instead of being condemned?
Word of advice to our kababayans: Never accept or do any favor to anybody specially strangers by accommodating any packages or parcels when going abroad.
You may be the next DRUG MULE OR A BLIND MICE.
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Speaking of going abroad, a recent news said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA 1 is one of the worst airports in the world, its
toilets stinking and bribery prevalent. It was voted as the 5th worst by an internet website called “The guide to sleeping in Airports “.
Previously, this writer wrote in our column in Balita about NAIA
As a “National shame “due to its conditions and its toilets or washrooms
Those don’t flush and clogged and have no tissue paper. Nakakahiya!
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AVELINA (Nena) SORONGON TIJAM, 88….Our sympathy and condolences to our colleague, Ms. Rose Tijam whose mother, Mrs. Avelina
Sorongon Tijam passed away last April 3. She was 88 years old.
Aling Nena, as she was called, was born in San Miguel, Iloilo but
later moved to Metro Manila.
Her remains were later flown to Manila for funeral services and cremation.
We therefore offer our prayers to the eternal rest of the soul of Aling Nena.
*****
On a more cheerful note, Birthday greetings to Aristheo O.Soriano, April 7 and congrats on assuming a new job at Reuters . Also to Rico De Las Alas, April 10, my bro, Ike Soriano, April 11 and Alex Ramos, April 21, husband of Nelda “Bebot“ Figueroa Ramos of Windsor.