Combined efforts from the pro-overseas worker Migrante Partylist and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) fell short of making her wish come true.
Darlene Veloso-Cando, a sister of convicted drug courier Mary Jane Veloso, said she would want to grant her sibling’s wish to be with her soon but the DFA told them it can only shoulder five people including her erstwhile partner Michael Candelaria, their two children, her mother Celia Veloso and brother Christopher.
Another sister, Maritess flew for Indonesia last Friday while their father is set to fly on April 22, courtesy of Migrante.
He will be accompanied by a Migrante lawyer, Cando said.
Cando said Mary Jane expressed her desire to see them all in person in a telephone conversation last week.
Maritess should have talked to Mary Jane last Saturday afternoon but Cando said she has yet to reach her sister. “Hindi pa po siya sumasagaot sa mga text ko,” Cando said.
The Indonesian government has deferred the execution of drug convicts that was originally set on April 10 owing to the presence of foreign leaders because of the Afro-Asian meet.
A Migrante official expressed fear, however, that while the group has been working for at least a re-trial on Mary Jane’s case, the Indonesian government may order the execution.
“Hindi po kasi katulad sa atin na kapag naka-pending appeal ay status quo. Sa kanila, kahit naka-appeal ay pwedeng ipag-utos ang execution,” a local Migrante leader said.
Mary Jane was sentenced to death by firing squad by the Supreme Court of Indonesia for supposed attempt to smuggle 2.611 kilos of heroin. But her family believes she was a victim of a drug syndicate.
