Remulla, Indonesian execs to discuss Veloso transfer

MANILA, Philippines — Top officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) will be in Jakarta from Friday to Sunday to iron out the details regarding the transfer to Manila of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino who was spared from the death penalty following her conviction for drug trafficking in 2010.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez told reporters on Tuesday the Indonesian government formally asked for an in-person meeting between Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

READ: Indonesia readies Mary Jane Veloso repatriation by January

Vasquez said one of their key concerns would be addressing Veloso’s sentence after her transfer, given that there is no death penalty in the Philippines.

Reacting to calls for Veloso’s immediate executive clemency upon her arrival, Vasquez said it was a policy issue that still needed to undergo discussions. “Can we do that? Maybe if there are no conditions, why not, right?

But if there are conditions, you are obligated to follow whatever terms or conditions are in the agreement,” he said. Asked about the exact date of Veloso’s return, Vasquez said that while the DOJ hoped it would happen before Christmas, the timing would ultimately depend on the discussions between the two countries. —Jane Bautista