The family of Sally Ordinario Villanueva, one of the three Filipinos scheduled for execution, said it is anxiously awaiting the return of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who is expected to arrive Saturday night, for latest development on their fate, while Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco expressed hope that the death sentences will be commuted to life sentences.

Villanueva’s mother, Edith, on the other hand, expressed dismay about their “cancelled” trip to China since their family was looking forward to a chance to see their incarcerated loved one. But the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that the trip was only postponed due to the stay of the execution.

“Hindi namin alam kung kailan matutuloy. Pinaghandaan pa naman namin iyon (We don’t know when it would push through. We have been preparing for it),” Edith said.

At least 11 relatives of the three Filipinos, along with two priests, were slated to leave for Beijing at 7 a.m. Saturday until the postponement was announced.

She, however, said her family was “happy” to hear about the postponement of executions, although they were still hoping for better news about her daughter.

“We’re thankful about the deferment of execution but we’re still nervous. Our request is that the government does everything that it can to commute their sentences.” Ordinario said in Filipino.

China deferred the execution of Villanueva, 32; Elizabeth Batain, 38; and Ramon Credo, 42 after Binay’s meeting with three top government officials of the People’s Republic of China.

“We are happy that it has been deferred,” Bishop Ongtioco said.

“I hope it will be (commuted to) life sentence,” he added.

Maasin, Leyte Bishop Precioso Cantillas of the Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECMI-CBCP), had also prayed for commutation.

“The office of the Episcopal Commission on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (ECMI) joins the Philippine government in pleading to the Chinese government to commute the death sentence it meted to the three Filipinos judged guilty of drug trafficking. We hope and pray that our pleas will be heeded by our Chinese brethren,” he said in a statement.

Ongtioco urged the people to continue to believe in the power of prayer.

“The power of prayer is to move hearts of people, through divine intervention,” he said.

The CBCP treasurer also urged the Philippine government not to get tired of negotiating with the Chinese government for the sake of the three Filipinos on Death Row.

“It’s important for them to be patient in appealing to the high officials on behalf of others, especially the poor,” Ongtioco said.

The DFA said Binay met with Chinese officials Dai Bingguo, State Councilor; Wang Shengjun, President of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC); and Zhang Zhijun, Executive Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the fate of the three doomed Filipinos.

“The Chinese side briefed the Vice President on the final verdict of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) on the three Filipinos sentenced to death for drug trafficking and the decision of the SPC to postpone the execution within the scope of Chinese law,” a joint statement from the governments of the Philippines of the People’s Republic of China read.

Ordinario and Credo were supposed to be meted the death penalty Monday in Xiamen, while Batain was to be executed the next day in Shenzhen. The penalties were to be carried out by lethal injection, reports said.

DFA Spokesperson Ed Malaya said further information on the deferment, including word on when and if the executions would push through will come from Binay himself once he comes back to the country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the public should continuously unite for the three Filipinos in China.

Valte, however, said the Palace would defer further comment on the issue, saying that it would wait for Vice President Binay to return to the country from his China visit.

Ellson Quismorio & Leslie Ann Aquino, Manila Bulletin