Palace: Duterte told Widodo to ‘follow own law’ in Veloso case

Malacañang on Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte did not give the go signal for the execution of Filipina drug convict Mary Jane Veloso, as reported by the Indonesian media.

READ: Duterte okayed Mary Jane’s execution, says Indonesian president

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte only told Indonesian President Joko Widodo to “follow your own laws” and that “I will not interfere.”

“Regarding the supposed statements coming from Indonesia, the President just informed us that his actual statement and conversation with President Widodo went like this, he said regarding Mary Jane Veloso, he said ‘follow your own laws, I will not interfere,’” Abella said.

Mary Jane Veloso. AP FILE PHOTO

Citing a report by Antara news agency in Serang, Banten, the Jakarta Post on Monday reported that Duterte had given Widodo the “go-ahead” to proceed with Veloso’s execution.

Veloso, who remains on death row for drug smuggling, was temporarily spared the firing squad in April last year.

After his attendance in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Laos last week, Duterte flew to Jakarta for a working visit to meet with Widodo and raise Veloso’s case. Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay then claimed that Veloso’s execution was deferred because it was not an “urgent issue.” IDL/rga

READ: Duterte takes up Veloso’s case with Widodo, but mum on details