“Lahat po dito ay naniniwala na wala siyang kasalanan,” Padiernos said. He said people in the neighborhood would not need hearing Veloso’s defenses because they know her “very well.”
Padiernos joined Veloso’s relatives, friends and sympathizers, along with members of Migrante-Nueva Ecija, including women and children, in a protest rally here Wednesday to press the government in stepping up efforts to save her from death.
They later held a prayer vigil at Veloso’s residence. This developed as Ma. Cristina Sergio, 43, the woman who reportedly facilitated Veloso’s entry to Malaysia and subsequently to Indonesia denied reports that she or anyone close to her provided Veloso the traveling bag from which the illegal drugs were found by Indonesian authorities.
Maritess Laurente, Veloso’s sister, expressed relief that Jakarta stalled her execution that should have been conducted April 9 or 10 owing to the Asia-Africa Conference that will last until the 24thof this month.
“Masaya kami dahil nagkaroon pa kami ng mas mahabang panahon para gumawa ng mas maraming hakbang para matulungan si Mary Jane,” Laurente said crying.
But they cannot completely rejoice, she said, because her fate remains uncertain.
“Andun pa rin yun conviction nila na ituloy ang execution,” said Ma. Cristina Valdez, a member of Migrante-Nueva Ecija.
Laurente said her family is confused on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) contrasting statements on its effort to save Veloso.
A certain “Ma’am Violet” who faced them on Tuesday allegedly told them the agency has been exerting all efforts in filing a second appeal to the Indonesian government but other officials whom she could not identify are saying they have yet to make such appeal.
“Naguguluhan kami,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sergio said she only helped Veloso to enter Malaysia as a tourist and possible employment as a housekeeper to her “client.”
She said she has been traveling several times to Malaysia as a consultant to a realty company. “Hindi po ako recruiter. Sila po mismo ang kusang pumunta dito sa bahay na naghingi ng tulong,” she said. The parents of Sergio’s live-in partner are Veloso’s wedding godparents.
Sergio said she spent over P65,000 on Veloso’s documents, including passport, personal effects and stay in Malaysian as tourist for about five days. “As tourist, nag-stay po kami dun (hotel) mga five days habang hinihintay namin yung kaibigan ko na papasukan ko sa kanya na pinakiusapan ko lang dahil naghahanap nga siya ng trabaho,” Sergio said.
She said she considered the amount as a loan which Veloso can pay when she landed a good job.
Sergio said she did not give Veloso the traveling bag. “Hindi po yun galing sa akin, hindi ko po alam kung may droga man yun o ano, hindi po yun galing sa akin,” she said. Veloso might have met someone while in tour, she said.
Veloso’s family maintained she is innocent and a victim of a drug syndicate.
