Veloso: Don’t cry for me

Commutation of sentence

Lawyers for Veloso are arguing for the commutation of her death sentence to life imprisonment.

“The court was not able to prove that Mary Jane was a drug courier. She was in possession of illegal drugs without her consent, knowledge and the intention of smuggling, selling them,” Olalia said.

He said another ground for judicial review of the case was that Veloso was a victim of human trafficking, a claim backed by evidence from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which interviewed Veloso in Jogjakarta recently.

“Victims of human trafficking, according to international conventions being followed by several countries are mandated to be protected and not to be charged and punished. She should be brought back to the Philippines,” Olalia said.

Handwritten letters

In a statement issued Saturday night, the DFA said that during the visit to Nusakambangan, Veloso gave to DFA personnel four handwritten letters addressed to President Aquino, Binay, the Filipino youth and women, and those who wronged her.

In her letter to Mr. Aquino and Binay, Veloso reiterated her innocence and stressed that only they could save her.

She wrote that she knows Mr. Aquino, as the father of the nation, has not stopped in the efforts to save her from the death penalty.

She expressed her hope of achieving justice for what had happened to her.

In her letter to them, Veloso advised the youth not to involve themselves in drugs and other illegal activities as this could ruin their lives and education.

For her fellow women who want to work abroad, Veloso said they should follow the legal procedures and use legitimate employment agencies.

Veloso said she hoped those responsible for what happened to her will be bothered by their conscience. With reports from Nikko Dizon, Erika Sauler and Kristine Felisse Mangunay in Manila; Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon; and AFP

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