Three Filipinas were sentenced to long jail terms for drug trafficking in Hong Kong, according to the Philippine Consulate General in the former Crown Colony.. The three, all of whom pleaded guilty, were sentenced by the High Court of Hong Kong to imprisonment of 14, 12 and eight years, respectively, according to a release posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The first Filipina was held by customs authorities at Hong Kong International Airport on Feb. 20 last year, after they found 1.2 kilograms of illegal drugs in her luggage. The drugs were concealed in four books she carried from Malaysia, which were allegedly given to her by another Filipino who arranged her trip. The Filipina was represented by a Hong Kong law firm and was sentenced to 14 years in jail. The second Filipina was sentenced to 12 years in prison after airport authorities found 380 grams of heroin hidden inside the bottons of 16 piecees of clothing when she arrived also from Malaysia on June 10 last year. The Filipina was reportedly offered $1,000 (P45,760) by another Filipino based in Malaysia to bring the items to Hong Kong. The third Filipina was sentenced to eight years in jail. She was arrested at HKIA on June 1 last year after 260 grams of cocaine were found inside her body. She was immediately taken to a hospital, where small plastic packets of drugs were extracted. Under Hong Kong law, drug trafficking is considered a serious offense, with penalties that include a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$5 million (P29.5 million). The Consulate General thus reiterated its calls for Filipinos travelling abroad not be duped into serving as drug couriers. The three Filipinas' conviction came after the DFA disclosed that 66 Filipinos, 53 of whom are women, are on China's death row over drug related charges.
