Mary Jane Veloso testimony tentatively set on December 12

MANILA, Philippines — The testimony of convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso will be taken, albeit tentatively, on December 12, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) announced Monday.

The selection of date was discussed at a hearing before Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court Branch 88, according to NUPL President Edre Olalia.

The Supreme Court Third Division allowed Veloso to give her testimony in writing before the Philippine Consular Office and officials in Indonesia as allowed under the Rules on Civil Procedure.

“We were supposed to present Mary Jane today pero hindi inabot kasi hindi naman ganun kadali ‘yun kasi siyempre magco-coordinate pa ‘yan sa Indonesia, magfa-file pa pala ang PAO (Public Attorneys’ Office) ng Motion for Reconsideration,” Olalia told INQUIRER.net.

(We were supposed to present Mary Jane today but it did not happen because it’s not that easy of course because there must be coordination in Indonesia, PAO has yet to file a Motion for Reconsideration.)

Olalia explained that the date of Veloso’s testimony remains tentative because it would still depend on the resolution of the Motion for Reconsideration to be filed by the defense, as well as the resolution of the defense’s pending Motion to Defer Action and the bilateral arrangements between Philippine and Indonesian authorities for Veloso’s testimony.

“It is not a question whether she will testify, the question is only when and where specifically,” Olalia said.

The arrangements for Veloso’s testimony, Olalia noted, are being settled by the Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs.

Veloso is still detained in Indonesia and facing the death penalty following her arrest in 2010 at Yogyakarta airport for bringing in more than 2 kilograms of heroin.

Veloso’s recruiters Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, meanwhile, are facing charges and being tried for qualified human trafficking, estafa, and simple illegal recruitment before the Nueva Ecija court. The two allegedly duped Veloso into bringing the illegal drugs.

Other individuals have also filed a separate case of qualified illegal recruitment against Sergio and Lacanilao.

The case will be resolved by January 30, 2020, according to NUPL. /kga