GEN. NATIVIDAD, Nueva Ecija – The parents of Mary Jane Veloso, a resident of Nueva Ecija who has been at the death row in Indonesia for over 14 years, are upbeat about the talks on “constructive diplomacy” that would pave the way for her return in the country.
But, at the same breath, they expressed fear of the possibility of her languishing in Philippine jails.
“Kung ililipat nila dito sa Pilipinas para ikulong ay parang hindi na yata dapat kasi alam naman nila na biktima lang si Mary Jane,” said Celia Veloso, the mother of Mary Jane, noting that her supposed recruiters have been found guilty by a Nueva Ecija court.
Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao have been found guilty of large-scale illegal recruitment by the Regional Trial Court in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija in January 2020. They were found responsible for unlawfully sending workers overseas, including Veloso who was later caught with 2.6 kilograms kilograms of heroin at Yogyakarta airport in Indonesia in 2010.
“Kaya dapat pagka ano, dapat laya na. Pag pinauwi na si Mary Jane diretso na dito sa amin,” Veloso said.
Having their daughter home could be the biggest wish of the 65-year-old ailing mother. Having been confined in hospital twice for different cases, Veloso hopes that Mary Jane can finally take care of her owns sons – the firstborn now 22 years old and the other 17. They were 7 and 2 years old respectively when Mary Jane went abroad hoping to make a living.
According to the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction of Indonesia, their government is “considering” a request to transfer Mary Jane Veloso to a Philippine prison.
Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Gina Alagon Jamoralin recently met to discuss the status of Veloso’s case, it said.
Yusril was quoted as saying Indonesia “upholds legal sovereignty and is committed to enforcing the criminal sanctions imposed by the courts”.
Considering the prisoner transfer for foreign inmates in line with the request from the inmates’ home country is part of constructive diplomacy, the ministry explained.
A Nov. 11 release also noted that once the inmate is transferred to her home country, her rehabilitation as well as decisions on whether to grant remission or clemency would all be “handed over to the respective country”.
Looking on the prospect that the Philippine government may opt to grant Mary Jane clemency, Veloso got upbeat. “E di napakasaya po. Napakasarap pagka ganun po ang mangyayari. Dahil yun lang po talaga ang hinihintay namin na mangyari.”
Veloso, her husband Cesar, and the two sons are set to visit Veloso on Dec. 15.
“Gustong-gusto kong sabihin sa anak ko, lakasan niya ang loob niya. Malapit na magsasama-sama na kami. ‘Yun po ang wish ko ‘yung makalaya na siya talaga,” she said.
