Vice-President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday said the Philippine government will assist Eliza San Gabriel who was sentenced to death by hanging this week for trafficking 1,126.9 grams of cocaine at the Puduraya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2009.

 

In a news release, Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers (OFW) affairs, said he instructed Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Ed Malaya to "extend all assistance" to San Gabriel. 

 

"The Ambassador has assured me that the Philippine embassy will assist Eliza in filing her appeal before the proper court," Binay said.

 

"I ask everyone to pray for her, and I appeal once again to our kababayans to be more prudent if asked by strangers to carry their luggage," he added.

 

Binay also urged Filipinos "not to be enticed by the promise of quick financial gain. It is not worth risking your liberty or life."

 

Malaysia's state-run news agency Bernama reported on Monday that the lawyers of the 45-year-old Filipina failed ro raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case.

 

Nine witnesses testified against the Filipina, who was named in the report as "Eliza Sans Gabrier."

 

However, the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines said the Filipina's name was actually Eliza San Gabriel.

 

Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abdul Razak noted that the defense's argument focused only on denying the accusations.

 

The judge thus ruled to hand her the capital punishment.