Press Release No. 080-03
12 March
2003
PRESS
STATEMENT BY SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER AMBASSADOR ROBERTO R. ROMULO
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
At the behest of Foreign Secretary Blas F. Ople, I took up with Acting Malaysian
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who received me in a private audience
this afternoon, the case of Mr. Andy Baginda, a Filipino convicted in Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah, in 1997 for violation of Malaysia’s Dangerous Drugs Act.
As such, Mr. Baginda was scheduled for execution on Friday, 14 March 2002.
I requested for a 30-day stay of his execution to allow for a review of facts
surrounding his conviction.
Acting PM Abdullah Badawi explained to me that Malaysian laws provide for
harsh penalties for violations of its Dangerous Drugs Act, which is similar
to that of Singapore and Thailand. Nevertheless, he assured me that they
would be fair to Mr. Baginda.
“We will make sure that the person has access to legal assistance. The most
important thing is that he is not denied the due process of law.”, according
to the Acting Prime Minister. He then gave instructions to Foreign
Ministry officials present during our meeting to look into the case of Mr.
Baginda.
I have since been informed that Malaysia has given our request due course
and that Mr. Baginda’s execution will not take place as originally scheduled.
I take this opportunity to thank Acting PM Abdullah Badawi for his compassion
and understanding.
On another matter, I presented the personal letter of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
to the Acting PM requesting Malaysia’s assistance in reviving the peace process
with the MILF. Per the President’s instructions, I also updated him
on recent developments in Mindanao.
Acting PM Abdullah Badawi reconfirmed Malaysia’s commitment to assist in
the search for peace in Southern Philippines. He cautioned, however, that
both sides should exercise restraint and should work within the legal framework
of the Philippine Constitution.