LANGKAWI, Malaysia — It’s final. The death sentence of Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso will be carried out on April 28 despite a last-minute appeal by President Aquino to the Indonesian government to spare her life.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has relayed a message to the Philippine leader that there is “no basis” to reconsider the death sentence of Veloso following her conviction on drug charges.
Aquino earlier met Widodo on the sidelines of the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur to plead for mercy on the life of Veloso on the eve of her scheduled execution via firing squad.
“Following the meeting this morning between the two Presidents, President Widodo this (Monday) evening instructed his Foreign Minister to convey to the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs the final view of the Indonesian Attorney General that there is no basis to reconsider the death sentence; that the execution will need to be enforced,” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement issued early Tuesday morning.
Coloma said the President was “saddened” after learning the decision of Jakarta on the case of Veloso. “He has instructed the Philippine ambassador in Indonesia to communicate with Mary Jane and find out what may be done to address her concerns for her family,” he added.
In a brief pull-aside meeting with Aquino last Monday morning, Widodo said he was sympathetic to the plight of Veloso and agreed to consult with the Indonesian Attorney General on the legal issues of the case. The Indonesian President then promised to resume the conversation with Aquino.
Coloma maintained that the Philippine government has not been remiss in looking after the welfare of Veloso since her arrest in April 2010.
He said the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has been providing legal assistance and actively monitoring the progress of her case.
He said when the Indonesian Supreme Court imposed the death sentence in May 2011, President Aquino wrote then President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono requesting clemency for Veloso. The implementation of her death sentence was deferred for three years.
“Thereafter, the President personally appealed to President Widodo on two separate actions, the latest being this (Monday) morning when President Widodo said he would consult his Attorney General,” Coloma said.
He noted that Philippine government had also filed a second request for judicial review. “This (Monday) afternoon, we were informed that the Indonesian Supreme Court had again denied our request,” he added.
In the meantime, Coloma said the government is determined to prevent a recurrence of such a situation by intensifying information and education efforts for Filipinos traveling and working overseas so that they may not be victimized by criminals.
“Such efforts have brought about a reduction in the number of Filipino nationals arrested abroad for similar crimes in the past four years,” he added.
Manila Bulletin
