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Stop giving false hopes

It’s not surprising that China, after giving in to the request of President Aquino to spare the three Filipinos in the death row for drug trafficking, has decided to push through with the execution.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said in a press conference the death sentence on Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain “will be carried out sooner or later, and everything will be done in accordance with Chinese laws.”

The date of the execution will be announced by the Supreme Court of Justice in China,” Liu said.

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “we would still try to appeal.”

Was Lacierda serious or was he saying this just for PR purposes? They should stop giving false hope to the public, especially the family.

In the same way that we are turned off by another country asking us to make exceptions in our implementation of the law for them, we should not be doing that with other countries. Chinese officials have always underscored “in accordance with Chinese laws” in their statements. Unless Malacañang has proof that the three were victims of miscarriage of justice, they should stop asking the Chinese government to violate their laws for the sake of Filipino drug mules.

They should instead pay attention to the reasons that drove these three to be drug mules. That they were caught in China made a mockery of the control system in the Philippines.

This is not the first time that Filipinos doing an illegal act sailed though the Philippine customs and immigration checks only to be caught in another country.

Another illegal drug case was that of former Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson who was caught in Hong Kong. The Euro-generals case involved ranking PNP officials held at the airport in Moscow with a large amount of undeclared foreign currency.

And of course, the case of the sons of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who had been merrily bringing out thousands of filched dollars until they were caught by customs officials in the United States.

The President can’t be begging every foreign government to exempt a Filipino from punishment for violating their laws without undermining the country’s integrity.

The President’s public relations advisers should also re-assess if they are not going overboard with the “bleeding heart” image they are trying to cultivate for the country’s chief executive at the expense of competence and respect for the law.

***

We hope the information we got that the President is considering family friend Domingo Lee as ambassador to China is not true. Relations with China are full of challenges and it is important that the basis for the choice of the person who will represent the country in Beijing should be competence and integrity and not just family connections.

We have seen the folly of putting premium on family friendship in the case of the former foreign secretary Alberto Romulo.

Former Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo (the better one) has expressed his reservations about sending a businessman to China because of possible conflict of interest. The two names who have been mentioned as being considered for Beijing are banker Edward Go and Alfonso Uy, who is in the flour milling business.

Romulo is batting for a career ambassador. In his column in the Philippines Star, Romulo said, “What I am driving at is that a person of vast experience, keen intellect and political savvy – which inevitably points to a career diplomat – would almost certainly be a better choice for a vital post like Beijing. May I suggest that there are potential seasoned diplomats in the career service like Luis Cruz, our current ambassador to Korea, Cristina Ortega, Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific and Antonio Basilio, the current MECO resident representative in Taipei (previously posted in Beijing and former deputy chief of mission in Washington). There are also experienced and respected retired ambassadors to China like Sonia Brady, Romeo Ong, and Philip Mabilangan. These retirees belong to the same generation as the potential candidates .”

The point is, there is no dearth of qualified, competent persons with training in foreign service for the position of ambassador to China.

Published inForeign AffairsIllegal DrugsMalaya

87 Comments

  1. rose rose

    if that’s China’s position..so be it! it is their country..kung tayo ay walang mahigpit na batas regarding drugs hindi nila kasalanan..tayo ang maysala seguro dapat rin tayo maging mahigpit…

  2. Mike Mike

    At least in China, their laws are consistent. Hindi paurong-sulong tulad sa atin. Diba kailan lang mayroon tayong death penalty sa time ni Marcos? pinahinto ni Cory. Pinabalik ni FVR, tapos pinahinto ulit ni Gloria. Wishy washy ang ating batas. Ang ating Supreme Court naman, apat na beses dinesisyunan ang isyu tungkol sa pagiging siyudad ng ilang munisipyo sa probinsya.

  3. Its easy to pontificate if you don’t have family/friends in the same situation, a little empathy here please.
    Its not an issue of bleeding hearts, we’re not naive, but personally I would rather say we will try to do everything we can than jsut say “let them die they deserve it.” Where’s the christianity in that? Reading the bible or mouthing scriptures is a waste of time when its not reflected in your way of life, we have so many pharisees already in our midst who are quick to condemn and shout “off with their heads!” There are so many people saying they love God, but I believe God will appreciate those who say “they love Gopdd’s people” a lot better.

  4. I sincerely doubt the integrity of those career DFA personnel, they have been exposed to a culture of corruption and incompetence far too long to learn new tricks. We need the standard of efficiency and transparency of “corporate” culture to erally see some changes.
    Bottomline, we need to do something different, we need someone different, rather than scrape the bottom of the barrel opting for tainted old government personnel who have done nothing but tolerate and even enjoy the corruption of the past. To them I say “off with their heads!”

  5. Mike Mike

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Domingo Lee is not only a family friend of the Aquinos. One of Lee’s son is married to PNoy’s sister. Nepotism?

  6. Mike Mike

    Sorry nalang sa tatlong bibitayin sa China. Nagahaman sila sa salaping inalok sa kanila ng sindikato yan tuloy ang napala nila. Sabi ng iba, ginawa daw. nila yun dahil sa hirap ng buhay kaya kumapit sa patalim. Ang masasabi ko lang, mas marami pang na mas naghihirap sa kanila na walang trabaho at walang makain pero di naman sila lumalabag sa batas.

  7. If China believes that killing those 3 will actually achieve something, they’re gravely mistaken, there’s a lot more where they came from, we have several million more starving countrymen waiting in line to be drug mules and the they will keep on coming. Very soon their jails, their gallows will be swamped with Filipinos who are more willing to die after a brif stint of luxury rather than languish in poverty.
    A more long term solution would be to deport those Filipino criminals to serve punishment here and vise versa – we deport the big time drug syndicate Chinese nationals here that the local laws can’t touch. Try that and they’ll see some dramatic changes. If you don’t want to get wet – turn off the faucet.

  8. re #5, Mike you must be referring to Viel. She is married to a “Dee” not Lee. Viel’s father- in- law, Howard Dee, was Pres. Cory’s ambassador to Vatican.

    Domingo Lee, on the other hand, was president of Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce during Cory’s time. His business is distillery.

  9. Wala na tayong magagawa kung bibitayin na sila doon sa Tsina. Batas nila yun at sumunod na lang.Mahirap na kaso iyang illegal drugs.Nararapat lang na patawan ng parusa maging sino man sila at anong lahi. Perwesyo sa lipunan ang mga sangkot diyan sa illgal na droga na dapat lang na puksain maging buhay pa nila ang kapalit na parusa.

  10. Subukan lang ng mga iyan na pumasok sa bakuran ko at bentahan o hikayatin ang mga pamilya ko sa gawain nila at hindi na sila makakalabas ng buhay lalo na ang mga anak ko ang biktimahin nila.

    Kaya ang tanong, gusto mo bang masangkot ang pamilya mo diyan sa illegal na droga?

  11. Kaya para sa akin, SO WHAT!!! kung bibitayin na sila..

  12. parasabayan parasabayan

    It is a sad to see our own people punished for a crime in another country but this is the harsh reality. Most of our kababayans put blinders and think that anywhere in the world they can do a Filipino style of doing things. Pwedeng pakiusapan at pwedeng lusutan. We are so lax with the enforcement of our laws in our own country. We can throw trash anywhere we please but in other countries, we know where to find the trash can. We can follow rules in other countries but not in our own country. It is this attitude that gets the better of us. Dito sa dating gawi natin tayo nalilintikan.

    Yes, it is the urge to improve ones’ life that our kababayans do these things but I see it as a “short cut” to a distorted and misguided illusion of success. Our people think that money is the only measurement of success and anyone who has money or material wealth, by whatever means, is successful. Then we wonder why the hoodlums are treated as gods in our country and most of them find themselves in public positions.

    When our kababayans get caught in other countries violating rules, naawa tayo. It is painful to see them pay for their crimes. In the first place, if their values are in the right place, these mules will never do the the crime they will be paying their lives with. It is a wrong “choice” but they made the choice themselves.

  13. Mukhang napabor pa yata yung kapalpakan na ipinadala yung mga nahuling sindikatong Taiwanese sa Tsina. Kung dito lilitisin yun, malamang lagyan lang ang judge at laya na. Doon sa Tsina baka mapugutan sila, hehehe.

    Ganun na rin dapat pag drug lab o pusher na Intsik ang nahuli, itapon agad sa Tsina. Mapa-Taiwanese man, Hong Kongese o Macau, bitay sigurado yan. Dito gagatasan lang sa Immigration saka palalayain. Balik uli sa paggawa ng droga.

  14. Di pa rin naadagdagan ang nag-iisang na-firing squad (ng legal) dito sa drug pushing, si Lim Seng. Intsik din diba? Maguumiyak ba noon ang Beijing?

  15. parasabayan parasabayan

    Kung minsan, mas gugustuhin ko pang gawin na lang legal ang paggamit ng droga. Yung mga taong walang magawa sa pera nila, pabayaan nating magpakamatay sila sa kadodroga. At least most of the profits and taxes will be used for the economy kesa sa mapunta lang sa mga drug lords at mga pushers.

  16. parasabayan parasabayan

    At sa mga bulsa ng mga crook na police.

  17. Mike Mike

    # 8

    Thanks Ms. Ellen for the correction. 🙂

  18. Mike Mike

    # 7

    I agree Jug. Kahit araw araw sila may bibitayin na drug mule o pusher tuloy parin ang illegal drug trade. Pero sa isang banda, ok na rin at least nababawasan ang mga mga may sala sa batas lalo na ang mga nagtutulak ng illegal na droga. Tabla tabla lang. Hehehe 😛

  19. I can’t make heads or tails of you, Jug.

    On one end you say(#3)”…mouthing scriptures is a waste of time when its not reflected in your way of life, we have so many pharisees already in our midst who are quick to condemn and shout “off with their heads!”

    Then, just as quickly now, you say (#4), “…tainted old government personnel who have done nothing but tolerate and even enjoy the corruption of the past. To them I say “off with their heads!”

    You, a Pharisee?

  20. What happened to the 3 really is a known occurrence here in the Philippines. I know for a fact that in my birth place somewhere in Manila, some of the people there are couriers of drugs. It’s been a hot spot in terms of drug trafficking and has been raided time and again by the authorities. But you see it as a reality of life. Why? Maybe because of poverty, maybe because it has been going on there and it’s just a perpetuation of a culture there. But whatever it is, it is a decline in the moral fabric of society where everything is fair game in term of profiting from it, even being a courier of drugs, and for what? A few hundred pesos for a local drug lord…

    Now, translate that culture internationally and you will have this kind of situation.

  21. rose rose

    I casn’t fault PNoy to try save the convicted Filipinos.. dapat lang…but hindi ba mas maganda if our gov’t be strict with our own laws..kaso nga lang nakakalusot ang mga violators dahil sa padulas..at madulas ang pera…this may sound and is barbaric…pero noong araw sa China if caught stealing..putulin ang kamay para hindi na magnakaw…

  22. jawo jawo

    During the initial onset of the martial law years, a Chinese national named, LIM SENG was executed by firing squad after having been tried and convicted as a drug dealer. There were never any efforts raised to spare his life from the Chinese community nor from mother China herself. Just a thought……………..

    For the meantime, thousands of stranded Pinoys are left to fend for themselves in Japan and in other middle-eastern countries where their lives are in great danger.

  23. rose rose

    just a thought din….kahit sino mang Chinese national na lumabag sa ating batas ay dapat ipadala sa Beijing…not in Taiwan nor Hongkong…wala akong tiwala sa Taiwan or Hongkong, not the Philippines…let Beijing handle their own justice..

  24. vic vic

    Chinese penal code is somewhat “unproportionate” to the crime if we compare them to the standard of other nations…but with the country that can not afford the breakdown of law and order fot its close to 2 billions population and the discipline to keep a one party state from exploding it has to rule with iron hand, otherwise its economic gain will crumble down like a great landslide never seen before…so it is just unfortunate for anyone get caught in the system…if these mule just happen to get intercepted say in some scandinavian countries or even in Canada, the most they will get is perhaps 3 years or less…as a mule..or even if being a victim could get the compassion of the court. but anyway, when travelling do not leave your luggages unattended for any reason…and do not take any package from anyone without personally checking it’s contents…when in doubt say NO…

  25. chi chi

    Kung may kasalanan, parusahan. Alam ng tatlong pinoy convicted drug mules/traffickers ang kanilang ginagawa, hindi sila first timers lang. Mapanganib ang napili nilang hanapbuhay at sila ay nahuli. Kung wala ng magawa ang gobyerno ni Pnoy sa kabila ng pagmamakaawa sa China, ihinto na ang begging at ituon ang pansin sa drug business sa Pinas at execute din ang mga lords.

    Kung sinuman ang nagpalusot sa airport sa tatlo ay kailangang malaman at parusahan din.

  26. Observer Observer

    They are caught with illegal drugs so they are to be executed regardless where it came from whether they were coerced, kapit sa patalim, utang na loob, or through hynosis that compelled them unknowingly to carry it.

    These are only three people that we are talking about here. What about those thousands of Juan de la Cruz who are running for their lives in Japan?

    Compare the cases of these three people in China who violated the law of the land with those thousands of pinoys in Japan who are in need of Noynoy’s help not because they violated the law of the land but because of Tsunami, I came to conclusion that those three criminals in China are being used as propaganda materials by Noynoy together with corporate-owned yellow media.

  27. parasabayan parasabayan

    When it rains, it pours. We have the our Filipinos in turmoil in Japan and the OFWs in the Middle eastern countries rattled by the warring factions. Mapapanot lalo ang buhok ni Pnoy at sabay sabay ang pangangailangan ng mga kababayan natin.

    When the news of these three mules to be executed came out, naguumpisa pa lang ang gulo sa Middle East and nothing happened yet in Japan. Now, marami ng mas mabibigat na problema si Pnoy.

  28. luzviminda luzviminda

    “Nagahaman sila sa salaping inalok sa kanila ng sindikato yan tuloy ang napala nila.”- Mike

    Truly, MONEY is the ROOT of all evils…. I also agree with Rose, na kung mahigpit ang pagpapatupad ng ating batas against drugs ay di makakalusot ang mga courier sa ating mga airport at ports, hindi sana umabot sa ganito. Mas mabuting dito na lang sila nahuli at nakulong. Ang hirap eh minsan ay may mga kasapakat din ang mga sinsikato na nagpapalusot paalis at papasok sa ating bansa ng mga droga…dahil na din sa PERA.

  29. luzviminda luzviminda

    It is so sad that it is our kababayan ang mga mabibitay. Napakahirap magbitaw ng salitang “pagdusahan nila ang kanilang kasalanan”. But are not punishments meant for wrongdoings?. Kung hindi masusugpo ang mga sindikato at kanilang mga drugmules ay dadami at lalala pa ang mga biktima. Let us just pray for them. Pero kailangan umpisahan ng ating mga authorities ang strict implementation ng batas. STAY AWAY FROM ILLEGAL DRUGS!

  30. luzviminda luzviminda

    PSB on #14,

    Totally agree!!!!

  31. Poor mules…

    Actually, money is not the root of all evils… it’s the love of money that’s the root of all evils. But in this case, these mules were probably tempted by money because of poverty.

    May God have mercy on their souls.

  32. luzviminda luzviminda

    That’s what i meant Anna!

  33. luzviminda luzviminda

    Anna,

    I believe na hindi naman sila talaga naghihirap na halos wala ng makain para gawin ang isang bagay na alam naman nilang masama at makakasama sa mga mabibiktima, ng drogang dala-dala nila. Hindi naman sila siguro mamatay sa gutom kung hindi nila gagawin yang pagiging courier. Maraming pwedeng legal at moral na paraan para kumita at mabuhay.

  34. Do these drug lords,pushers and mules have souls? Wala..
    Ang dami nila winasak na buhay at pag-asa ng mga kabataan.Kahirapan ba ang nagtulak sa kanila? Hindi!!!dahil marami rin ang naghihirap na lumalaban sa buhay sa marangal na paraan.

  35. luzviminda luzviminda

    LIFE or DEATH…we make our choice…always think of the consequences of our decisions and actions. Nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

  36. Tama ka Luzviminda,
    Tayo ang gagawa ng sarili nating choices and decision sa buhay.

    Karamihang dinadahilan kaya raw sila nagnakaw dahil hirap sila sa buhay,pag palalampasin ang ganyang katwiran ay tuluyan na silang maging tulisan.

    Mga iba nagnanakaw pa ng kalabaw sa probinsya, mga gungong, nakawin nila ang kalabaw papano na ang pagsasaka ng may ari,iyun lang ang katuwang niya sa kanyang hanap-buhay.

    Tamaritis lang ang sakit ng mga magnanakaw at gumagawa ng illegal.

  37. parasabayan parasabayan

    A crime is a crime and someone who commits it will have to pay for it one way or the other. Yung mga kriminal sa atin na nakakalusot dahil marami silang perang pambayad sa hustisya at maraming connections, and Diyos and gumagawa na ng paraan. Either they get very sick or a huge devastation eradicates all their riches. Ganyan lang naman talaga ang buhay. Justice still prevails somehow.

  38. Luz,

    You are right about the mules making the wrong choice and are paying and will pay the ultimate price for it. Sigh…

    Just that I feel a bit of pity for these poor hogs whose lives we know will be deliberately snuffed out in a foreign land. They committed a crime alright and are going to pay for it with their life so I feel we can all be just a bit — just a teeny weeny bit, more compassionate, after all, they will soon be killed and will no longer pose a threat to society.

  39. Nung bata pa ako sa bayan namin wala akong nabalitaang namatay sa gutom,lahat may pagkain,pag pista lahat ng bahay ay bonga ang handaan, pagsasaka at pangingisda lang ang hanap buhay nila at padamihan pa ng anak pero sagana sila sa buhay dahil masispag ang mga magulang nila. Kalabaw lang ang ginagamit nilang pang araro sa bukid at hindi na sila bumibili ng guano tae ng kalabaw lang ang abono nila. Nung nauso ang kubuta,kala nila high tech na. Yan tuloy ang napala nila hindi sila makapag araro kung walang gasolina, kag tumagas pa ang langis at gasolina sa bukid ay disgrasya. Bili pa sila ng guano para dumami ang ani nila. kung sana di nila kinarne at ibenenta ng por kilo sa araw ng bargain sa palengke makapag araro sila kahit malakas ang ulan, at kung tumae pa ang kalabaw ay grasya pa sa bukid nilang pang abono.

    Bandang huli lumuwas na sila ng Maynila dahil wala na raw naaani sa bukid, nakikipagsiksikan na walang siguradong hanap buhay, tirahan at makain sa siyudad.-Ano ang gagawin nila? Kapit sa patalim dahil ayaw ng bumalik sa pinangalingan nilang probinsya, Manila Boy na sila.Hehehehe!

    Sa Probinsya magaan ang buhay doon dahil nahihingi ang talbos ng kamote at Malungay pati bunga, ay noon pala iyun ng bata pa si Sabel. Ngayon ipinagbibili na nila at wala ng hingi.Mga taga barrio ang luwang ng lupa na nakatiwangwang pupunta pa ng bayan at sasakay pa ng tricycle ang bilhin lang bunga ng ampalaya, kamatis at talong. Mapapagod pa raw sila pag magtanim sila bili na lang tutal nasa Saudi si Manong at HK naman si Manang.Di na sila nagsaka, ibenenta na ang kalabaw at ipinusta sa sabong. Nag PAL na lang sila.Ano ang asenso kung ganyan ang takbo ng utak nila? Oo nga pala nakalimutan ko nasa Saudi at HK pala ang utol, mama at papa nila kaya makipag tourney na lang sa kain at tulog.

  40. I’m not one to invoke the name of God nor cite biblical verses and I suspect I’m one of the very few here who are not religiously fervent at all – not my type to believe in unnecessary religious hocus pocus but to me, the minute it’s a given that a criminal is going to pay the ultimate price for his crime with finality, I allow him/her a bit of compassionate word: May God save his/her soul.

  41. Hmmm…”I’m not one to invoke the name of God” (except when I’m friggin mad and need to swear… 😛

  42. But I agree unreservedly with what Ellen writes:

    They should instead pay attention to the reasons that drove these three to be drug mules. That they were caught in China made a mockery of the control system in the Philippines.

    This is not the first time that Filipinos doing an illegal act sailed though the Philippine customs and immigration checks only to be caught in another country.

    Another illegal drug case was that of former Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson who was caught in Hong Kong. The Euro-generals case involved ranking PNP officials held at the airport in Moscow with a large amount of undeclared foreign currency.

    And of course, the case of the sons of former military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who had been merrily bringing out thousands of filched dollars until they were caught by customs officials in the United States.

    The President can’t be begging every foreign government to exempt a Filipino from punishment for violating their laws without undermining the country’s integrity.

    The President’s public relations advisers should also re-assess if they are not going overboard with the “bleeding heart” image they are trying to cultivate for the country’s chief executive at the expense of competence and respect for the law.

    And her advice to the President’s public relations advisers to

    re-assess if they are not going overboard with the “bleeding heart” image they are trying to cultivate for the country’s chief executive at the expense of competence and respect for the law.

  43. luzviminda luzviminda

    Yes i agree, we need to pray for their soul. Dito sa atin nung may sentensiyang pa ng Bitay, may nagbabasbas bago bitayin. Eh dun kaya sa China?

  44. chi chi

    #36 Cocoy. Do these drug lords,pushers and mules have souls? Wala..
    Ang dami nila winasak na buhay at pag-asa ng mga kabataan.Kahirapan ba ang nagtulak sa kanila? Hindi!!!dahil marami rin ang naghihirap na lumalaban sa buhay sa marangal na paraan.
    __
    Swak mo, cocoy! Maglababa/ platsadora, o magtanim ng kamote!

  45. chi chi

    Easy drug money is so enticing for some. Ngayon, kung pinasok nila ang drug business problema nila yan dapat kaya rin nilang harapin ang kaparusahan. Yes, lahat my choice, sila ang pumili ng sariling hanapbuhay.

  46. florry florry

    In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “we would still try to appeal.”

    Appeal for what?

    Nakakaintindi ba itong si Lacierda o talagang bobo.

    The Chinese government already made it very clear that they will go on with the executions, so what appeal is he talking about? Gusto pang humirit basted na nga.

    And now it can be told that the licking-ass act of Noynoy by boycotting the nobel peace award and the deportation of Taiwanese nationals to the mainland did not bear any fruit at all. Akala kasi ang China ay pipilipitin ang batas nila para pagbigyan ang sipsip katulad diyan sa Pinas.

  47. Musta na Chi, saan ka na ngayon. hinhanap ko iyung kodak ninyo ni AT4. Si Pareng Joeseg nakita ko na.

    Oo nga ang daming pweding pagkakitaan sa atin na di na kailangang maging Mules.Sa isang libong puhunan may tuhog-tuhog BBQ na sila.Iyung sobra na di mabenta dinner na nila.

  48. Yung classmate ko nung HS nagtitinda lang siya ng bibingka sa elementary school sa labas pa ng gate pag recess nakapag patapos siya ng accountant at engineer.Ngayon hindi na siya nagtitinda, Order na lang pag may okasyon kaya Big time na siya.Sanlibo yata ang isang bilao.

  49. florry,

    I don’t know why but something tells me that these three will not be executed at all…too bad you won’t get your usual diet of human blood this time if it doesn’t happen. 🙁

    you’re almost sounding like you’re cheering the chinese on, like the ancient romans in the coliseum, arms extended, clenched fists, with a thumbs down sign shouting “kill, kill, kill!” 🙂

  50. there’s too much death and destruction going on lately, perhaps it won’t hurt if we just pray or even “wish” the chinese will think twice about killing “our” countrymen instead of the other way around?

    i find it hard to understand really why some people i know who actually saw people get killed, killed a few even, don’t even want these people to die (if given a choice) but some people, tough talking ones, probably cold blooded killers of reptiles, amphibians, six legged, eight legged insects, and occasional chickens are so excited or even adamant that these human beings should be killed – and not only that, they should also be made to understand that there is no hope already and that if they and their families can’t accept that now, they should probably kill themselves earlier? or spend each waking moment from now until they die in hopeless agony?
    there is always hope, we should not give up even to the last minute, we should do whatever we can, where there is still breath left there is still hope. pray for mercy, pray for a miracle, if the chinese won’t hear our supplications pray to God. is that too much to ask?
    otherwise we encourage everyone to do an angelo reyes.

  51. china is too big a market for the illegal drug industry to pass up, they don’t just have the numbers, they have the buying power, and along with the rise of wealthy population emerges some deterioration of family values, add suppression to that equation and you have an extremely lucrative drug trade. who are they kidding? they had opium dens for centuries now, they’ve been killing people for the came reasons for the same length of time, was it effective?

  52. do not lose hope…

    ————-

    DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

    Do not go gentle into that good night,
    Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
    Because their words had forked no lightning they
    Do not go gentle into that good night.

    Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
    Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
    And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
    Do not go gentle into that good night.

    Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
    Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    And you, my father, there on the sad height,
    Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
    Do not go gentle into that good night.
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    – Dylan Thomas

  53. olan olan

    Our government should investigate why there are so many who can bring out money and drugs from our airports without any problem. Parang napakadali nitong gawin dito. This can only happen if someone or somegroup from within makes it happen. Easy entry and exit ng mga pera at droga ika nga. Instead na magmakaawa ang gobyerno natin, alam naman nilang may mga batas ang bawat bansa, kailangan lang talaga ayusin ang pangangasiwa ng ating paliparan kung talagang gustong makatulong sa kapinuyan at mapigil kaagad ang posibleng kapahamakan ng ilan. Kaso puro na lang ganito, parang laging napakahirap ituwid ang mali dito sa atin. How can you believed them (our government), they can’t seem to correct anything that is wrong in our country…puro na lang kabagalan at iresponsableng pangangasiwa ang ginagawa. Kailangan bang presidente pa ang kumilos para may mangyari? Puro kasi mga civil servant na di pwedeng tanggalin at mga bata ng kung sino ang mga bantay salakay sa airport natin. hoy mga bosing sa airport gising!

  54. Hindi kasalanan ng taga airport ang nangyari diyan sa nakalusot na droga. Sila bilang pasahero at maglakbay sa ibang bansa dapat alam nila kung ano ang dala nila. Bawal ba o hindi.Saka di sila nagbubuklat ng bagahe sa airport na palabas ng bansa, binubuksang ng custom ng airport sa Port of entry ng distination nila.

  55. olan olan

    Bago ka makasakay sa eroplano may screening mga bagahe bago ilagay sa eroplano. Yung PAL nga, nasa loob ka na ini screen ka ulit minsan nakapasyal ako papunta sa ibang bansa. Sa ganun kalaking halaga ng pera at timbang ng droga tanga lang ang maniniwala na di nila alam yun. At kung talagang nakalusot lang, bakit di ayusin para di na maulit ulit? kailangan pa bang makiusap muli sa mga bagay na di naman dapat at maiiwasan?

  56. parasabayan parasabayan

    Cocoy, lahat ng bagahe ay dapat inuusisa palabas at papasok ng airport kahit na saang bansa. Kaya may pananagutan ang security ng airport natin. Kakuntsaba sila ng mga drug lords. Nakatimbre na ang mga yan. Madali lang namang malaman kung sino sino ang mga yan. Tignan lang kung sino ang nak-duty ng paalis ang mga mules na yan. Bingo! malalaman na kung sino ang mga kakuntsaba ng mga operators.

  57. parasabayan parasabayan

    Kung minsan nga yung mga nag-che-check ng mga hand luggages sa airport eh naguunahan pa na sila na mag-check ng bagahe mo. Yung isa nga noong nakaraang biyahe ko eh sinabihan ako na siya ang hanapinang bag ko. Ang sagot niya, meron at meron pa rin yan. In other words, nanghihingi siya ng pera. These “security” personnel are so scary. Kung kaya nilang mangikil, kaya rin nilang maglagay ng kung ano ano sa mga bags natin. It is so scary. For all we know, baka yung mga bags na dala ng mules eh nauna na sa eroplano and the airport personnel themselves carried these luggages with drugs to the baggage compartment of the plane. Anything is possible. It is a syndicate!

  58. parasabayan parasabayan

    Clarifying what I told the security personnel when he told me that I will look for him when the inspection commences. I told him no need to pick a specific inspector coz I do not have anything left to inspect. I spent all my money already and his response was “meron at meron pa ring naiiwan kahit papaano”. In other words he was soliciting for money in exchange for his lax inspection.

  59. PSb,
    Ako pag umuuwi ako kung lima ang bagahe ko, limang $10 ang iipit ko sa passport ko para wala ng bukasan, guguntingin na lang niya iyung maskin tape at tali.Pasalubong na lang sa mga kababayan natin.Oley lang na magbigay.

  60. Pero bandang huli naiisip ko madali silang yumaman pala ang taga airport,kaya di na ako nagbibigay. Buksan na lang nila ang bagahe ko kung gusto nila, di naman nila gagawin iyun kasi sayang ang delihensya nila sa susunod na pasahero sa akin, baka nga magbigay ang mga iyun.Hehehehe!

  61. Sa airport dito walang ganyanan, manga ang dala mo, tapon sa basurahan, kung tuyo at daing ayaw na nilang halungkatin lalo na pag may kasama pang bagoong sa garapon, mangangamoy sila kasi malakas kumapit ang amoy.Kaya pag PAL na ang darating madali ang inspection kasi alam nila na karamihang dala ng Pinoy pauwi ng US ay puro ganun lalo na kapag iyung kahon ng HOPE na sigarilyo ang hila hila nila papunta sa custom inspection.

  62. parasabayan parasabayan

    Cocoy, dati nga nagbibigay ako ng $ 20. Ngayon $ 5 na lang. At least nagbibigay pa ako. Tama ka, kung magaaksaya sila ng panahon sa iyo, mawawalan sila ng delihensiya sa mga susunod pa. Matalino ka talaga…heh,heh,heh.

  63. parasabayan parasabayan

    Napuna ko sa dalawang nakaraang dating ko na hindi na nga masyadong nag-iinspection ang customs dito sa LAX. Bukod sa kulang na kulang sila ng immigration interviewers, kulang din sila ng customs inspectors. Sobrang haba ng pila ngayon sa airport. Bago ka makalabas inaabot ng 3 hanggang 4 na oras. Dati isang oras lang. Sobrang tipid ngayon ang US. I hope they are not sacrificing the security of the citizens.

  64. PSb,
    Sa mga kababayan nating pauwi ng US kung gusto nila na mapadali ang inspection ng custom sa kanila magdala sila ng daing at tuyo.

    Experience ko iyan.Kaso ng si kumander ko ang galing nga Pinas puro DA-ING ang pasalubong niya sa akin. Daing ng Daing na masakit daw ang katawan niya sa haba ng biyahe, Daing ng daing na naubos raw ang pera niya doon sa mahal ng bilihin.Hehehehe

    Sagot ko naman sa kanya, ganyan talaga tayong mga Pinoy puro DAING ang pasalubong sa uuwiang pamilya sa Us.

  65. my friend always risks getting into trouble by bringing in the “bak kwa” or the famous barbecue pork/pork jerky from singapore (regular and spicy) to the us of a, as “cured meat” is not allowed but people are anxiously, salivating even, waiting for that delectable delicacy which they eat with rice on a cold winter’s day.
    these “bak kwa” mules brave the strict airport inspection just so as not to disappoint waiting kababayans.

    http://www.eatingoutloud.com/2009/11/singaporean-sweet-pork-jerky.html

  66. chi chi

    cocoy, may aso na nang-aamoy sa mga bagahe at tao bago pumasok sa loob ng umalis ako sa Pinas. Perom kahit wala, naniniwala ako na meron mga kasapakat yan sa loob dahil maraming beses na nilang ginagawa ang maglabas ng drug sa bansa.

  67. chi chi

    #49. cocoy, paano mo makikita e hindi naman tayo FB friends. Ang tagal ko ng nag-request hindi mo ina-add. Nakadalawa na akong photos with Trillanes sa wall ko. Yung mga ebidins, unti-unti naming ilalabas ni joeseg.

  68. chi chi

    Hindi ako nagbibigay sa airport custom, tinitingnan ko sila ng deretso sa mata.

  69. parasabayan parasabayan

    Speaking of dogs, I was in Australia a few years ago. At the airport, tumabi sa akin ang isang very friendly beagle. Yung handler niya ni hindi naman naka-uniform. He asked me very casually kung meron akong dalang fruits. Sabi ko wala. But the dog just sat right next to me pa rin. So I looked into my pocket and found an apple na binalot ko ng napkin. Ang galing ng mga asong mangamoy. They should be our partners in tracking these drug mules.

  70. kapatid kapatid

    Economics drove the Drug Mules into this. But they must be aware of the risk that they have taken. They must be aware, that, had they succeeded in smuggling in the drugs, the families of the users would be and are suffering too. Drugs is a menace in any society, worse than guns and bullets.

  71. chi chi

    Drugs is worse than guns and bullets. I believe so, too, kapatid. With guns and bullets patay kaagad, no more extended sufferings to the members of the family and society. With drugs, bad effects are felt by all…sobrang pahirap sa may katawan, sa pamilya at sa kapwa.

  72. Mike Mike

    # 67

    Jug, if your friends got caught bringing in meat products to the US, the most that the US customs can do is to confiscate it. I’ve a friend who brought with him Chinese (sliced) ham. Got caught and confiscated. They were questioned but not barred from entering though.

  73. Mike Mike

    # 67 & # 74

    Di naman siguro bibitayin ang nahuling may dalang meat products sa US. 😛

  74. Observer Observer

    OFF TOPIC:

    California is about to get hit by earthquake between March 19 and 25th according to an expert who has a good track record of predicting it. Let’s wait and see.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQXDt4VdS0E

  75. Para sa akin ay hayaan na lang na mabitay ang tatlo na iyan. Dapat respetuhin ang batas ng China. Batas nila iyon kaya iyon ang masusunod. Wala namang ibang dapat sisihin kung bakit ang tatlo na iyon ay mabibitay kundi mga Pilipino din. Sila ay nahuli na may dalang droga paglapag ng eroplano mula sa Pilipinas. Kung dito pa lang sa airport natin ay nalaman ng may droga sila hindi sana iyon mangyayari sa kanila na sila ay bibitayin. Ang dapat managot ay kung bakit nakalabas sila ng bansa mula airport natin na may droga. Iyon ang magandang imbestigahan bakit nangyayari ang ganun.

    click ito http://www.arvin95.blogspot.com/

  76. I pray for the three and their family. I pray that they be given the strength to bear this adversity. We should all learn from this sad experience.

  77. florry florry

    Jug,
    For the first time you’re right. I am not only cheering but applauding the Chinese for upholding their laws no matter who’s involved or how much ass-licking being done by any government, which in this case, Noynoy’s government. Maybe you should ask yourself what’s the use of enacting laws if at the intervention or whim of someone moneyed or powerful it turn into a trash.

    Your comparison about me cheering and the romans at the coliseum is some kind of idiot and stupid. These events are incomparable. Main characters in the China affair are people who have all the options yet opted to be drug mules, menace to society and already convicted criminals, while during the roman times, the victims have no choice at all and whose only fault was being slaves, were made to kill each other to satisfy and entertain the roman masters.

    Noynoy bleeds his heart for the criminals about to be executed. Not far behind is Jug.

    Enough with the hypocrisy. Before you guys bleed for somebody else, why not make a point that justice be served to the innocent victims of the two massacres.

    Oh I have to take that back, Jug once said that those victims deserved to be killed, meaning justice is out of the equation.

  78. Maraming paraan para mag-smuggle ng droga. Minsan merong nagpadala ng package sa isang sikat na courier na mga tsinelas at step-in papuntang Jeddah. Itong isang empleyado ay nakati-katihang isukat yung isang may takong na tsinelas, nabiyak ang suwelas at natambad ang supot na may pulbos na puti sa inukit na suwelas ng tsinelas. Droga agad ang inisip nila, kaya itinimbre agad sa Airport Police.

    Isinet-ap ang nagpadala para timbugin, sasabihing, kesyo sarado na ang opisina nila sa Jeddah at ililipat sa Riyadh kaya kung pwede ay kunin na muna niya ang shipment at irerefund siya dun sa binayaran niya. Pag dala na ng tao yung droga ay saka sa titikluin.

    Marunong yung tao, nagpadala ng taxi at pinapick-up sa taxi driver yung epektus na may dalang authorization at ID. Sabi nung pulis, walang silbi dahil itatanggi lang ng driver na kanya yung epektus ay lusot na ito.

    Simula noon ay nakatimbre na sa mga branch nila na huwag tumanggap ng mga tsinelas o sapatos papuntang abroad. Hindi kasi pinaaamoy sa K-9 ang cargo nitong sikat na US courier.

  79. rose rose

    It was nice of PNoy to ask for the Chinese gov’t to spare the lives of the three..well and good…but now what? will they stop smuggling the drugs? This maybr cyinical but I will not be surprised kung sa paguwi nila uli sa next vacation nila sa Filipinas at pagbalik nila sa China baka hindi na sa bag ang bibit na droga kundi sa maleta na..at baka every other month uuwi at nagbabakasyon..can afford na to go home in style…
    ..it reminds of a story of a man who went to cofession..”Forgive me Father for I have sinned..I stole a rope tied on a tree.” Ang sabi ng Pari..return the rope my son..it is a sin to steal..” sinuli ng tao ang rope pinalitan ang lubid at inuwi ang nakatali sa carabao…kaya kung makaligtas ang tatlong ito sa bitay the next time around paka cargo box na ang dala.
    ..the next time around again..Miss, Miss anong iyong dala? isang maleta po sir! anong laman ng maleta, Miss? Di ano pa sir kundi droga.” baka ang sabihin pa ng inspector..pahingi naman!”

  80. rose rose

    corr.above: cynical

  81. rose rose

    Cocoy: talking of mangoes…once nagdala ako ng two green mangoes yon maaisim na maasim pa..sans the ginamos (bagoong)..nadapat ako sa mahigpit na inspector sa Detroit..itatapon sana..I told him not to throw them sayang as I still have the time…I will just eat it…so na upo ako and ate the mangoes..inubos ko ang dalawa…what did I get? a severe stomach ache…moral of the story from that time on…I don’t attempt to bring anything..kahit na yong favorito ko..ang Baguio longaniza…baka ipakain sa akin ng hilaw…

  82. henry90 henry90

    It is the duty of the State to appeal for clemency, rightly or wrongly, for its citizens who might have violated the laws of other States. Or would you rather have it that government turn a blind eye to the plight of its citizens abroad? Anyway mga ‘drug mules’ lang naman sila? Even Jesus forgave that criminal beside him in the cross in Calvary. But the Chinese are Communists, right? Whatever! The State must continue to appeal their case! Wala namang bayad umapela di ba? Hirap sa iba, sala sa init, sala sa lamig. Pag walang ginawa, babanatan ka. Pag naman may ginawa ka, babanatan ka pa rin. Ano ba talaga kuya?

  83. tru blue tru blue

    @61 and 64: That’s the reason why some of these customs workers have houses with swimming pools, alilas; in short living the good life coz of these covert “lagays”. Imagine one customs worker raking in $500 to $1000 buckaroos in a day? Parang jueteng winner araw-araw na walang taya.

  84. parasabayan parasabayan

    China just wants more concessions using these three mules. This is the bottom line. Ingat lang si Pnoy not to give in to them. Putot was so friendly to them to the extent that she and her cronies got a lot of “projects”, perks like the NBN-ZTE deal and enjoyed the free flowing dough into their pockets.

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