MANILA (AFP) - China has refused a visit from the Philippine vice-president to ask for mercy for a Filipino on death row, and said the man's execution will not be delayed, the Philippine foreign department said on Saturday.
The 35-year-old from the Philippines is scheduled to be executed on Dec 8 after he was caught at an airport in 2008 trying to smuggle about 1.5kg of heroin into China from Malaysia.
'We have also been informed that the Chinese side is unable to arrange the visit of Vice-president (Jejomar) Binay to China at this time. We respect the Chinese law and the verdict of the Supreme People's Court,' the foreign department said in a statement.
'We are still hoping that Vice-president Binay be allowed by the Chinese authorities to go to Beijing to personally hand over the letter of appeal of President (Benigno) Aquino,' it added.
