No special treatment for Chinese drug convicts

Malacañang assured the public that no special treatment will be extended to the four Chinese nationals who were sentenced to life imprisonment on drug charges.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Beijing and Hong Kong renewed their calls for the Philippines to ensure that the rights of Lo Wing-fai, Chan Kwok-tung, Kwok Kam-wah and Leung Shu-fook are respected.

In a statement, Panelo assured that the four drug convicts will be given proper treatment as they spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

"We assure the public that no special treatment will be accorded to the four Chinese drug convicts as they serve their life sentence behind bars for operating a floating shabu laboratory in Subic," he said.

"Similarly, we also give assurance to their families that they will be given proper treatment in prison, and they will be humanely treated in accordance with the Bill of Rights under our Constitution, as well as with appropriate Philippine laws and rules," he added.

The Palace official, meanwhile, said that they consider this development as clear proof that the Duterte administration is unrelenting in its war against illegal drugs, and will spare no one who will violate domestic laws.

"The Palace considers this development as clear proof of the government’s unrelenting war against illegal drugs, which spares no one who violates our laws," Panelo said.

Families of the four drug convicts insist that they are innocent and have vowed to fight for justice.

They also launched a crowd funding campaign to raise HK$3 million for legal expenses.

On Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said it gives great importance to protecting the safety and legal rights of Chinese nationals abroad.