Mary Jane Veloso (second from right) reunites with her family after five years in Indonesia. (Photo from Migrante International)
MANILA, Philippines — An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs hopes Indonesia will listen to Philippines’ request for clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who is on death row.
DFA undersecretary Eduardo De Vega pointed to the two countries’ ties, both being members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“We think that as an Asean member and friend, the Indonesian government will be lenient to our pleas,” he said.
“Miss Veloso has a lot of allies, not just the Philippine government, but some people in Indonesia,” he noted.
De Vega aired his optimism during the Laging Handa Public Briefing.
He also said National Commission on Human Rights is also on Veloso’s side.
The commission is Indonesia’s human rights authority.
“Even the Indonesian Human Rights Commission and tiyak na yung mga women’s groups are supporting us,” he said.
(It is certain that those women’s groups are supporting us.)
“Every day na buhay siya, that means na nakikinig ang Indonesia sa atin,” De Vega observed.
(Everyday that she is alive, that means Indonesia is listening to us.)
De Vega further mentioned the commission is monitoring the human trafficking case filed against Veloso’s recruiters.
Its result might have an influence on Indonesia’s decision on the fate of Veloso.
She was sentenced to death for smuggling heroin into Indonesia.
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