GEN. NATIVIDAD, Nueva Ecija – The family of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina migrant on death row in Jakarta, are upbeat on the prospect of having Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. discussing her case with Indonesian officials.
Her mother, 63-year-old Celia, said they are hoping that Marcos, the third president since Veloso’s conviction can finally work for her freedom.
“Sabi ko Diyos ko, sana nga po siya (Marcos) na ‘yung makapag-pauwi kay Mary Jane,” Celia said in reaction to reports that the chief executive would take up her case when he visits Indonesia.
Foreign Affairs Sec. Enrique Manalo earlier announced the possibility when asked by Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas about updates on Filipinos on death row overseas.
“Masayang masaya ako. Hindi ako natulog kagabi. Gabi na hindi ako makatulog.
Iniisip ko, ini-imagine ko na Diyos ko kako tatlong pangulo na kako ngayon kako mukhang si Bongbong Marcos ang makapagpapauwi kay Mary Jane,” she said. The news came, she said, when she was talking to her husband, Cesar, on the possibility of making a call to Malacañang for help.
Celia noted that the Regional Trial Court in Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija has already convicted Veloso’s alleged recruiters, couple Julius Lacanilao and Ma. Cristina Sergio, a couple of years back for human trafficking.
But the court’s ruling on taking a deposition of Veloso to bolster claim she was a victim of drugs traffickers was stalled by the lockdown caused by the pandemic.
“Ngayon naman ay bago na ang judge tapos parang binabalikan pa ‘yung mga dating pinag-usapan,” she said, referring to outcome of their hearing on Aug. 15 At her age, Celia who experiences some sicknesses already, said she dreams of having her daughter back.
“Mayakap ko man lang siya bago may mangyari sa akin,” she added.
