Veloso spent ‘quality time’ with family, says lawyer

Family members of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino woman on death row for drug offenses, from left to right, father, Cesar, mother Celia, sons Mark Daniel and Mark Darren and sister Marites, walk upon arrival at Wijayapura ferry port to to cross to the prison island of Nusakambangan, in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia, Saturday, April 25, 2015. AP

Doomed Filipina Mary Jane Veloso finally met with her family on Saturday at the Nusakambangan prison island where her execution would take place.

“Mary Jane spent about two hours of quality time and bonding with family,” said Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers and one of the private counsels of Veloso who was in Indonesia.

Olalia said Veloso was “incredibly strong, calm and composed.”

“She tells her family not to feel sad and is buoying their spirits,” he said, adding that Veloso’s two kids were playful with their mom.

Her parents, he said, were “initially broken but regained composure.”

He said “prison guards and officials were very nice to Veloso and vouched for her amiable, thoughtful and bubbly personality.”

According to Olalia, Veloso maintained “absolute innocence” on the drug smuggling charges filed against her.

“She may die but she firmly maintains she is a victim,” he said.

Veloso has told her Philippine private lawyers more details about her ordeal.

“NUPL notices wide gaps in the chain of custody of the subject’s luggage from Malaysia to Indonesia that were all opportunities for the placing or planting of heroin without her knowledge,” Olalia said.

He said Veloso was happy “that a second judicial review was filed and that all efforts are being made to save her.”

The family will have the chance to visit Veloso longer at the prison island on Sunday and on Monday until 4 p.m.

“Today’s visit is short because she is still in semi-isolation,” Olalia said. RC