Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A convicted Filipino drug smuggler gets a second lease on life after being spared the death sentence in Malaysia, the Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported on Tuesday (June 30).
Malaysia’s board of pardons commuted the death sentence by hanging of Jacqueline Quiamno to life imprisonment following an appeal for clemency by the Philippine government and her family.
Quiamno was arrested in June 2005 for smuggling five kilograms of cocaine stashed in her luggage at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
She said she smuggled the cocaine through an African drug syndicate based in Hong Kong.
She was convicted in November 2010.
The Philippine embassy, in a statement, conveyed its “heartfelt appreciation to the Sultan of Selangor and the Selangor Pardons Board for this sterling manifestation of benevolence and compassion.”
Death penalty convictions are referred to the State Pardons Boards headed by the Sultan or Governor of the concerned state.
Clemency are often granted after a convict has served a long time in prison.
The last execution of a Filipino in Malaysia was 22 years ago, in June 1993. The Filipino was executed for murder in Sabah.
Meanwhile, the most recent case that hogged the headlines involving drug trafficking and an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row was Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia, who was set to be shot last April 28 but was given reprieve at the last minute in the early hours of April 29.
The move was in response to a request from Manila after Veloso’s alleged illegal recruiter gave herself up.
