The parents of Mary Jane Veloso asked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to grant executive clemency to their daughter. She is on death row in the said country.
In the letter, the couple Cesar and Celia Veloso said they got information that Marcos would be going to Indonesia for a state visit. It is said that this may be the right opportunity to appeal Mary Jane’s condition.
“Kaya’t nakikiusap po kami sa inyo Mahal na Pangulo na humiling ng executive clemency kay Pangulong Joko Widodo ng Indonesia para palayain na si Mary Jane Veloso. Mahigit na po na labing dalawang (12) taon siya sa piitan at nakawalay sa kaniyang dalawang anak,” they said.
“Nalaman po namin sa media na bibisita kayo sa Indonesia sa Setyembre 5, 2022 at nakikiusap po kami na sana’y gamitin ang magandang pagkakataong ito upang pakiusapan si Pangulong Joko Widodo na palayain na si Mary Jane Veloso batay po sa humanitarian consideration. Sana po ay maisama na niyo pauwi si Mary Jane,” they added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that Marcos would discuss Veloso’s case with Indonesian officials during his state visit next week.
Pres. Marcos requested to asks for Mary Jane Veloso’s clemency
Mary Jane Veloso was arrested for smuggling 2.6 kilograms, or approximately 5.7 pounds of heroin, in a suitcase. Throughout her trial, she maintained her innocence, claiming she was duped into carrying the suitcase by her god sister. The latter told her to go to Indonesia after losing a job in Malaysia.
Veloso’s trial ended in her being sentenced to death in 2010, but she was spared due to a moratorium on capital punishment. She was then rescheduled to be executed in early 2015 after Joko Widodo won the overall country’s election as President of Indonesia.
She was to be executed on April 29, 2015. Still, She was given a stay of execution so she could act as a witness during a trial of her human trafficker – that trial has yet even to be close to coming to any courtroom in the Philippines.
Mary Jane Veloso was scheduled to be sentenced to death by firing squad in 2015, but it was not continued due to the appeal of then President Benigno Aquino III.
Widodo agreed to Aquino’s request after the recruiter, who Veloso claims had defrauded her, was arrested in the Philippines.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.