Duterte, Widodo may discuss Mary Jane case

FILE – Philippine convicted drug smuggler on death row Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, is escorted by Indonesian police as she arrives at the court in Sleman in central Java island for a hearing of judicial review on March 3, 2015 after a plea for clemency was rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. A Frenchman, two Australians, Brazilian and a Filipino are among a group of foreigners, who have lost their appeals for clemency and are facing imminent execution. Brazil and France have also been ramping up pressure on Jakarta, with Paris summoning Indonesia’s envoy and the Brazilian president refusing to accept the credentials of the new Indonesian ambassador. AFP PHOTO / SURYO WIBOWO

The plight of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino on death row in Indonesia, may come up in President Duterte’s discussions with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Widodo is calling on Mr. Duterte in Malacañang on Friday as part of his state visit to the Philippines. His visit comes a day after that of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei.

The Brunei and Indonesian leaders are also attending the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Mr. Duterte might bring up the condition of Filipino workers in Brunei and Indonesia, including the case of Veloso, in his meetings with the leaders of the two countries

Veloso’s mother, Celia, earlier urged Mr. Duterte to seek clemency for her daughter, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.

Mr. Duterte, who visited Jakarta last year, had told Widodo that he would not interfere in Indonesia’s implementation of its laws.

Veloso’s execution was deferred after Philippine officials told the Indonesian authorities that her testimony was needed in the human trafficking case filed against her recruiters.