Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday sought Malaysia’s assistance in curbing the illegal drug trade, but at the same time, called for the protection of 27 overseas Filipino workers who were convicted of drug trafficking in that country.
“I will also seek greater cooperation in the war against the illicit drug trade. This menace knows no boundaries and cooperation between our nations is vital in order to address this problem,” said Duterte when asked what he will discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Najeeb Razzak.
Duterte has been criticised for his campaign against illegal drug dealers and users, which has killed 4,999 people since July.
Some Southeast Asian leaders have been implementing the death penalty, a harsher punishment for those convicted of illegal drug trade.
At the time of Duterte’s state visit, Malaysia had not scheduled the execution of 27 OFWs on death row.
The cases of OFWs involved in the illegal drug trade are being reviewed, said Philippine ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya said.
“[The convictions of OFWs in Malaysia] show how important it is to address or eradicate the drug menace in Malaysia, which has very stern policies against drug cases. Trafficking and smuggling is strictly prohibited and is severely punished by Malaysian law,” explained Malaya.
He did not say if Duterte personally appealed for the continuation of the reprieve of the execution of the 27 OFWs who gave been languishing in death row.
In 2013, the Malaysian government instituted an informal moratorium on the execution of those convicted over the illegal drug trade.
There has been a steady decline in the number Filipinos getting caught for illegal drugs abroad, Malaya said, adding that OFWs have learnt their lessons from the conditions suffered by convicts on death row and the execution of people caught for drug trafficking in Malaysia.
Earlier, Duterte called on nine other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fight illegal drugs.
“The trade [in] illegal drugs, in particular, has emerged as a pressing problem for our countries, undermining social cohesion and the rule of law and socioeconomic programme of our country,” said Duterte in Laos last September 6.
Also last September, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo quoted Duterte as saying the latter gave a green light for the execution of OFW Mary Jane Veloso who was caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin at Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta in April 2010.
Widodo stayed Veloso’s execution in April 2015. At the time, her recruiter was arrested in Manila for allegedly duping Veloso to carry a drug-laced luggage from Malaysia to Indonesia, after the latter realised she did not have a job waiting for her in Kuala Lumpur.
Asean member countries have agreed to help each other curb illegal recruitment and illegal drug trade.
