Manila: The presidential palace said that there is nothing much it can do to prevent the December 8 execution of a Filipino convicted of smuggling drugs into China.
"We have exhausted all legal efforts," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
He added that the Philippine government is not taking the scheduled execution of one of its nationals as a direct affront to the country.
"This should not in any way be seen as a slap on the Philippine government," he said.
According to reports, the 35-year-old Filipino national, was found guilty by China's Supreme People's Court of smuggling 1.495 kilos of heroin in Guangxi.
He came to China through Malaysia and was apprehended on September 13, 2008, at the Guilin International Airport for possession of heroin.
President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday had sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao asking for a reprieve for the Filipino drug convict.
