Awwal 15, 1432 H/Feb 18, 2011, SPA -- The vice president of the Philippines said on Friday China had postponed the execution of three Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking, after he pleaded for clemency on their behalf, Reuters reported. Jejomar Binay flew to Beijing on Friday to meet the president of China's Supreme Court to discuss the cases of two women and a man who had been expected to be put to death next week. "We express our sincere appreciation to China for the decision of the Supreme People's Court to postpone the execution within the scope of Chinese Law," Binay told Reuters in an interview in his hotel room. Binay said it was the Supreme People Court's President Wang Shengjun who had informed him of the postponement, without elaborating on the timing. A Philippines-China joint statement said the two governments were determined to work together in the fight against transnational crimes including drug trafficking and to further strengthen strategic cooperation. Chinese authorities had previously rejected even a Philippine request for Binay to visit to intercede. "HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL" The Philippines government has pulled out all stops to persuade China to commute the death sentences, with President Benigno Aquino, who is due to make a state visit to China in May, sending a written plea to China's President Hu Jintao. "We have been told several times that there is no more hope but I believe that while there is still time, hope springs eternal in the nation's breast and we will sustain our efforts to get clemency or reprieve for Sally Villanueva, Ramon Credo, and Elizabeth Batain," Aquino said in a statement on Friday. The Philippines has relatively good relations with China, despite competing claims over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Binay, who will return to Manila on Saturday, also met China's State Councillor Dai Dingguo and and Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun. -- SPA
