805 Pinoys facing drug-trafficking cases abroad –DFA

A total of 805 Filipinos are currently detained abroad for drug-related offenses, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said 341 are detained in Asia and the Pacific, 244 in Middle East and Africa, 116 in the United States and the Americas, and 104 in Europe.

Of this figure, 45 are on death row, but Jose explained that their death sentences are not yet final as the cases are on various stages of appeal.

The number of Filipino death convicts also include those who were sentenced to death with two-year reprieve, meaning the penalty can be commuted if they will show good behavior while in detention.

In many countries, such as China, smuggling of large quantities of prohibited drugs is punishable by death.

Five Filipinos – all drug couriers – had been put to death in China since 2011.

Unfazed by the executions, many Filipinos continue to engage in drug trafficking, refocusing attention to the government's futile efforts to deal with criminal syndicates exploiting vulnerable Filipino workers, who are used to ferry drugs for money or by trickery.

Vietnam

Last week, a local court in Vietnam sentenced two Filipinos to death for drug smuggling.

Jose said the Philippine government, through its embassy in Hanoi, has been extending assistance to the Filipinos since the time of their arrests and that jail visits have been conducted.

Private lawyers were also hired to help in their legal defense, Jose added.

“We would like to assure the families of the two Filipinos that we continue to closely monitor the cases and provide updates on the appeal proceedings. We will cotinine to extend the necessary and appropriate assistance to the two Filipino nationals,” Jose said.  —KBK, GMA News