Widodo visit ‘opportune time’ to discuss Veloso case – Duterte

The visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo in the Philippines will be an “opportune time” to discuss the case of convicted Filipino drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday.

“It will be an opportune time to discuss it during the restricted meeting,” Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview in Malacañang.

Duterte and Widodo will hold a bilateral meeting on Friday afternoon during the state visit of the Indonesian President. Widodo is also here in the country for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.

In their bilateral meeting, the President said he will ask Widodo if it would be OK for them to discuss her case.

“Puwede ba itong pag-usapan? Eh kung ang sagot niya, ayaw. Hindi,” he said.

Widodo will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Friday afternoon and will proceed in Malacañang for his welcome honors.

On Wednesday afternoon, Celia Veloso, the mother of Mary Jane, and the kin of other overseas Filipino workers on death row trooped to Malacañang on Wednesday to seek the help of Duterte for their loved ones.

Veloso was arrested at the Adisucipto airport  in Yogyakarta in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. Her execution was temporarily stopped in April 2015.