Malacanang on Thursday said the Philippine government is further beefing up its information and education efforts to curb human and drug trafficking activities.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the government is also intensifying efforts to ensure that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are aware of the laws of the countries where they would be working.
“Government is intensifying information and education efforts to heighten awareness on the perils posed by human and drug trafficking activities, and to impress upon them the importance of knowing and complying with laws of countries where they are working,” Coloma said.
“Such efforts are also being conducted in the country’s regions and provinces so that awareness may be attained even while in the country and among the workers’ families,” he said.
It will be recalled that Mary Jane Veloso escaped death by firing squad in Indonesia last Tuesday following new developments on her case that would make her a vital witness against drug trafficking syndicates.
Eight other drug trafficking convicts had been executed in Indonesia’s execution island. The Indonesian government has tough rules against drug trafficking.
The Palace had said it does not celebrate the situation of having other convicts executed but said it acknowledges the fact that Veloso’s situation is different as she was a victim of circumstance.
Veloso had consistently said that she was not aware that the suitcase she was carrying contained 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
She was caught in Yogyakarta Airport in 2010.
Manila Bulletin
