Prayers and appeals flowing for Filipina Mary Jane Veloso who is due to be executed by firing squad tomorrow at 3 am (PST) in Indonesia, Migrante BC announced.
According to Migrante BC spokesperson Jane Ordinario, Mary Jane was able to see her family sometime today. Emotional appeals and online petitions are coming from B.C. to spare her life citing that Mary Jane is an innocent victim of human trafficking by a drug syndicate.
Veloso maintained her innocence for years and finally wrote a letter of appeal to Indonesia President Joko Widodo on April 16. “Honorable Sir, I believe that as the Father of the Indonesian Nation you should protect your children, above all those who are genuinely innocent.”
“I sincerely pray to be saved from the death penalty and to be given the opportunity to bring up my children.” (Inquirer.net)
April 25: action in front of the Indonesian Consulate in Vancouver organized by Migrante BC. Photo by Migrante BC.
She is the only woman who is facing execution early Tuesday, April 28 along with eight other men from Australia (2), Nigeria (4), Brazil (1), France (1) and Indonesia (1).
Migrante BC is appealing to the Vancouver residents to come say a prayer and light a candle for Mary Jane at Multicultural Helping House Society located at 4804 Fraser St. on Tuesday, 5 pm.
Jokowi rejects worldwide appeal to save Mary Jane.
Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appears to have crushed the final hope that Mary Jane Veloso could be spared from execution.
In an interview aired on state-owned television station TVRI late on Monday, April 27, Jokowi explained his response to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s appeal earlier during the day asking for the 30-year-old Filipino mother of two’s life to be spared.
“I won’t repeat this again, this is about the supremacy of law,” he said, when asked whether Veloso would definitely be executed, reiterating the statement he gives every time he’s asked about the death penalty.
DESPERATE PLEA. Mary Jane Veloso’s mother Celia, brother Christopher (center) and ex-husband Michael Candelaria make an emotional appeal in Cilacap on Monday, April 27. Rappler.com
Appeals to save Veloso, who maintains she was duped into bringing a suitcase with 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden inside into Indonesia in 2010, has quickly gained momentum over the past few days. Indonesian migrant worker activists have also campaigned for her, saying she could easily have been one of them.
But Jokowi said that instead of reporting on those who would be executed, the media should explain that 50 young Indonesians die from illegal drugs every day, or about 18,000 a year – the statistics he uses to claim that Indonesia is in a drug emergency that necessitates the use of the death penalty.
Jokowi also said he had asked Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to convey his response to the Philippine government.
The response comes a few hours after the Sleman district court rejected the second case review request filed for Veloso, the last legal effort to save her.
Last week, Philippine investigators recommended the filing of charges against an African man and two Filipino nationals for trafficking Veloso – a move many say comes too late.
Veloso is set to be executed by firing squad after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, along with 8 other drug convicts on death row, with reports indicating it would take place sometime after midnight on Wednesday, Rappler.com reported.
Mary Jane’s recruiter surrender
The recruiter of Mary Jane Veloso surrendered to authorities in Nueva Ecjia on Tuesday, April 28, DzMM radio reported.
Maria Kristina Sergio “voluntarily surrendered” to Nueva Ecija police.
The National Bureau of Investigation had earlier filed illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and estafa charges against Sergio and two others in connection with Veloso’s case. Veloso’s camp claims that Sergio duped her into unknowingly smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia.
Reacting to the development, Lawyer Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said: “That’s the only moral thing to do. It might be the 11th hour but at least we have something to work on and for the president of Indonesia to take into serious account.”
Olalia said that “the least that she (Sergio) can do is to declare categorically that Mary Jane is innocent.”
He added, “If President Widodo still stands by his position, it will put to rest any remaining doubts about her innocence.”
It remains to be seen whether Sergio – who had earlier denied the allegations against her and had said that the “truth” would come out regarding her involvement – would own up to the charges against her. –
For latest case updates, visit www.migranteinternational.org
