DFA: Veloso, lawyers refused to sign notice of execution
Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso. AFP FILE PHOTO
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday said that Mary Jane Veloso, the 30-year-old Filipina who is in the death row in Indonesia, did not sign the notice of the date of her execution pending the second appeal filed by her lawyers for a judicial review on her case.
READ: Veloso execution set on April 28, say ma, lawyers
In a statement sent through text message to reporters, DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose said that at 8:22 p.m. on Saturday, a representative of the Philippine embassy in Indonesia reported that Veloso was issued the notice of her execution, set for April 28.
“At 8:22 p.m. last night, Manila time, our embassy rep [who] attended the meeting at Nusakambangan reported that Mary Jane was issued the letter of execution but she, lawyer, and embassy did not sign it, reasoning that there’s a pending 2nd appeal,” Jose said.
Veloso and her lawyers then signed a letter which acknowledges that they refused to sign the notice of execution.
The DFA on Friday said that they have filed a second appeal on Veloso’s case which centers on the argument that she was a victim of human trafficking.
READ: PH embassy files 2nd appeal to save Veloso from death sentence | What did Mary Jane Veloso write on her appeal for pardon?
Veloso was transferred to Nusakambangan Island Prison where her execution will take place.
The impending execution of Veloso and nine other death-row drug convicts has sparked outrage from Filipino and Indonesia citizens. United Nations chief Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday has appealed to the Indonesian government led by President Joko Widodo from to save the convicts from execution via firing squad.
READ: UN chief urges Indonesia to spare drug convicts from execution
“The Secretary General appeals to the government of Indonesia to refrain from carrying out the execution, as announced, of 10 prisoners on death row for alleged drug-related crimes,” a spokesman for Ban said on Saturday. DPL
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