Screengrab from Change.org
As the Philippine government scrambles to save the life of Filipina domestic helper Mary Jane Veloso, netizens from all over the world have signed a petition calling for her pardon.
The petition, which is titled “Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso! End Human Trafficking!” was signed by 26,572 supporters on global petition platform Change.org.
The petition targets 35,000 signatures.
Posted by a certain user named “church response,” the petition seeks to grant clemency and pardon for Veloso who is set to be executed through firing squad.
It also explains how Veloso, a mother of two children, is a victim of human trafficking.
“As a single mother of two, young sons, Mary Jane was desperate for employment which made her vulnerable to the Human Traffickers.”
“Not fluent in English and limited in formal education, Mary Jane was swept up in a flood of circumstances that resulted in her conviction: she had no legal counsel for most of the process, she did not understand most of the proceedings, and her family received death threats from the drug syndicate, warning them not to go to the media or seek help,” the petition read.
Aside from seeking clemency and pardon for Veloso, the petition also demands those who duped Mary Jane to be convicted.
Veloso became a drug convict after she was arrested in 2010 when she arrived at Yogyakarta Airport with 2.6 kilograms of heroin stitched in the lining of her luggage.
She is set to be executed through firing squad on April 28, her relatives said.
President Benigno Aquino III, who is currently in Malaysia to attend the 26th Asean Summit, will try to dialogue with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a bid to save Veloso’s life.
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