MANILA, Aug. 10 (PNA) -– Philippine diplomats and justice officials have recently visited death row convict Mary Jane Veloso to assure her of continued government assistance on her case, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
On July 31, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Executive Director Reynaldo Catapang and Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III led a team of lawyers and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents to a regular consular visit to Veloso at the Wirogunan Penitentiary in Jogjakarta.
Veloso, a 30-year-old mother of two, was spared from death at the last minute when the Indonesian government ordered a stay in her execution following President Benigno S. Aquino III’s appeal to counterpart Jokowi Widodo to turn her into a witness.
She entered Indonesia from Malaysia as a tourist and was arrested by authorities at the Yogyakarta airport in 2010 after 2.6 kilograms of heroin were found in her luggage.
Veloso maintained her innocence, saying she was tricked by her Filipino recruiter into bringing the suitcase to Indonesia.
During their meeting, the officials explained to her their individual roles in the pursuit of the case against her alleged illegal recruiters and reiterated that the government is committed to support her case and secure justice for her.
The government team was accompanied by Consul General Roberto Manalo and Indonesian lawyers Atty. Agus Salim and Atty. Aprillina Purba.
Representatives from the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office and Indonesian Foreign Ministry were also present to monitor the jail visit. (PNA)