Another Filipino woman nabbed for drug trafficking

By DJ Yap in Manila/Philippine Daily Inquirer | ANN Sun, Apr 10, 2011 4:40 PM SGT

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - A Filipino woman was arrested by Indonesian authorities at a Central Java airport upon her arrival from Kuala Lumpur for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than one kilogram of heroin.

The arrest came days after China executed three Filipino drug traffickers and despite repeated warnings by government officials to Filipinos working abroad not to carry packages from people or accept offers from drug syndicates.

The department of foreign affairs (DFA) said the woman was nabbed on April 3 by Indonesian customs and excise officers at the Adi Sumarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java after 1.193 kilograms of class 1 heroin were found in her possession.

US$8,000 fee The DFA said the woman was allegedly paid $8,000 by an international drug syndicate to carry the heroin to Indonesia.

The woman flew from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on board an Air Asia flight, the DFA said.

In a statement, the DFA said the Philippine embassy in Jakarta was providing assistance to the Filipino woman to ensure that her rights are respected.

Following the latest arrest, the DFA reiterated its appeal to all Filipinos to avoid accepting offers from individuals or groups to carry illegal drugs in their luggage or in their person when going abroad in exchange for money.

The Philippine government has a strong anti-illegal drug policy, and is closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies in other countries on efforts against anti-drugs trafficking," the DFA said.

It is undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the drug mules issue and to prevent the further victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates," it added.

In most Muslim countries, including Indonesia, drug trafficking is punishable by death, the DFA said.

Last month, three Filipino drug couriers died by lethal injection in China after the Chinese government rejected appeals for clemency by Philippine officials.

Appeal to privacy The family of Elizabeth Batain, one of those executed in China, appealed to media on Friday to respect their privacy while they grieved her death.

In a statement coursed through the DFA, the family also expressed their disenchantment with the Philippine justice system, saying it only benefited the famous and well known persons only.

On behalf of my entire family, we would like to request all media to refrain from contacting us during this traumatic time. We need to stay strong as a family. This constant harassment is a serious invasion of our privacy," said Batains sister, GhingGhing.

The family insisted that it would not allow the media to publish photos of Batain and information related to her burial.

We want to move on, we want to let her go even if we didnt gain any justice for her. Please kindly convey to all concerned, especially to media to focus and to face major problems in our country," the statement read.