Vice President to appeal drug mule’s death sentence

MANILA — Vice President Jejomar Binay will fly to China to appeal the death sentence on a Filipino who was convicted of drug trafficking.
The Foreign Affairs department made the announcement Wednesday despite earlier pronouncements from Malacañang that it has exhausted all efforts to commute the Filipino drug mule’s death sentence.
But Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez told Sun.Star in a text message that the schedule for Binay to hand-carry the President’s letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao is being worked out.
Hernandez did not confirm if the letter is similar to what President Benigno Aquino III earlier sent to Jintao that sought the commutation of the Filipino national’s death penalty to life imprisonment.
DFA confirmed Wednesday that a 35-year-old Filipino was convicted for smuggling 1.495 kilos of heroin in Guangxi, a mountainous Chinese province bordering Vietnam.
He was apprehended last September 13, 2008 at the Guilin International Airport upon arrival from Malaysia after authorities found heroin in his possession.
On November 28, the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing affirmed a lower’s court’s decision to impose the death penalty on him.
“We have exhausted all legal efforts but the sentence would still be carried out on December 8,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, adding the Chinese court remains firm in its decision.
Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III has sent a letter of appeal to Chinese President Hu Jintao requesting commutation of the death penalty to life imprisonment.
He added that Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario also made representations with the Chinese Ambassador to convey the appeal of the Philippine government for a mitigated sentence.
Similarly, former Philippine Ambassador to China Francisco Benedicto conveyed the government’s appeal to a top official of the Chinese Supreme People’s Court (SPC).
But all efforts were in vain.
Despite the sentence, Lacierda believed that the relations between China and the Philippines will not be affected.
“We recognize the decision of the judicial authorities in China. It was made based on the evidence that the Filipino national was carrying (1.495) kilos of heroin and, therefore, based on their law, it was subject to the death penalty. Again, it was done in compliance with their legal processes, we respect that, and I believe that in the same manner that the three Filipinos were previously been executed this should not cause a hiccup in Filipino-Chinese relations,” he said.
This is the last death penalty conviction, without reprieve, involving drug trafficking in China’s highest court. Of the six convicts who were sentenced to death last March, only three — Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, and Elizabeth Batain — were executed.
The DFA said the family of the Filipino national has already been informed of the SPC’s decision. They will be flown to China to visit and see their loved one.
For their part, members of the convict’s family said they were devastated by these developments.
“It is a very difficult time for us and we are trying our best, through prayers, to cope with the situation. We urge our countrymen to pray with our family,” the DFA said in a statement, quoting the family members.
They also asked the media to refrain from contacting any of them.
Meanwhile, the government reiterated its appeal to all Filipinos to refuse to act as drug couriers by drug syndicates.
“We appeal to all Filipinos, especially OFWs, not to allow themselves to be victimized by international drug syndicates and to be extremely cautious when dealing with strangers in airports and other areas of transit. We would like to stress that vigilance is the first major step in combating the modus operandi of international drug traffickers. We urge all our citizens to be on alert at all times in order not to be victimized by drug syndicates,” the DFA said.
The agency also appealed to the media to continue helping the government in its campaign against drug trafficking. (Jill Beltran/Virgil Lopez/AMN/Sunnex)
Source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/11/30/vice-president-appeal-drug-mule-s-death-sentence-193372

Clark Wine Center was built in 2003 by Hong Kong-based Yats International Leisure Philippines to become the largest wine shop in Philippines supplying Asia’s wine lovers with fine vintage wines at attractive prices. Today, this wine shop in Clark Philippines offers over 2000 selections of fine wines from all major wine regions in the world. As a leading wine supplier in Philippines, Pampanga’s Clark Wine Center offers an incomparable breadth of vintages, wines from back vintages spanning over 50 years. Clark Wine Center is located in Pampanga Clark Freeport Zone adjacent to Angeles City, just 25 minutes from Subic and 45 minutes from Manila.

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

Residents of Pampanga Angeles City, Subic, Tarlac and Clark Philippines know of this wine shop as one of the best places in Clark, a good night out place and simply the best place to hang out, enjoy some good wine with cheese on the roof deck with good atmosphere, or just relax and unwind with friends and family in a cool place. This wine shop in Clark Pampanga is recognized by many to be one of the best places to buy fine vintage wine in the Philippines. Located near Mimosa Leisure Estate surrounded by golf courses, resorts and a casino, this well known wine shop is frequently visited for its good selection of wine not available in Manila or Subic. Clark Wine Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. Private dinners, wine tastings and group gatherings can be organized by advanced reservation.

Foodies and wine lovers travel north from Manila to wine and dine at Philippines’ best fine dining restaurant in Pampanga Clark Freeport worth the 60-minutes drive for a memorable evening of good food with vintage wine at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most guests would stop by this famous wine shop called Clark Wine Center to bring home a few good bottles of fine vintage wine also. Other visitors may find the wine selections in some of the restaurants in Angeles City Pampanga to be less than interesting, so they stop by this wine shop near Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines, buy some good wines and bring these bottles of good vintage wines to the restaurants so they can enjoy the dinner.

Wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Loire, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Alsace, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Chile and Argentina etc. are well represented in this Clark Wine Shop.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

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Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com