MANILA—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated its warning to Filipinos against being victimized as drug mules.

This after another Filipina was sentenced to life imprisonment last January 6 by the lower court of Denpasar in Bali, Indonesia.

The Filipina was apprehended by Indonesian officers on July 12 last year at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on an Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur. She was found carrying 2.4 kilograms of heroin.

The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta provided legal representation to the Filipina in her court appearances and provided consular assistance, the DFA said.

The DFA-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) also communicated regularly to the family and relatives of the Filipina in the Philippines.

The DFA-OUMWA reminds the public that there are stiff penalties imposed by other countries on anyone caught carrying illegal drugs.

In China, drug trafficking of 50 grams or more of illegal drugs is punishable by 15 years in prison, life imprisonment, or death. In Muslim countries, drug trafficking is punishable by death, according to the Shariah law.

When travelling overseas, Filipinos are advised not to accept packages which they suspect contain drugs. Filipinos should also be very wary of the modus operandi being used by drug-trafficking syndicates.

The Philippine government is undertaking comprehensive and proactive measures to address the “drug mules” issue and to prevent the further victimization of Filipinos by international drug syndicates.

These measures are being implemented in cooperation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other key government agencies.

The DFA also continues to extend its assistance to those in death row within the bounds of due process.

At present, there are 208 drug-related cases in China with 36 cases given life imprisonment sentences, 72 cases given fixed-term imprisonment, and 19 pending cases.