The parents of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino domestic worker on death row in Indonesia, have appealed to the Philippine government to detain their daughter in a safe facility upon her return to the country as they fear that the drug syndicate that tricked her to smuggle drugs abroad will still go after her.
Cesar and Celia Veloso on Thursday, Nov. 21, welcomed President Marcos’ announcement that Mary Jane is coming back to the Philippines upon the approval of the Indonesian government to turn over its custody.
However, they asked the government to keep her in a safe place so they “will not worry.”
“Masaya po kami, kaya lang po nangangamba po kami kung ikukulong pa po dyan sa Maynila, ay dapat po ikulong po nila sa safety ‘yung aking anak,” Cesar said in an interview with Unang Balita.
“Dahil ‘yung recruiter n’ya nagbitiw po sa min na sila daw po ay international na sindikato, kaya po nangangamba po kami,” he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday that Veloso will still be detained upon her return to the country because the legal jurisdiction over her case remains with Indonesia.
DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said the Indonesian government will still have to grant her clemency or allow President Marcos to do so before Veloso regains her freedom.
Veloso has been on death row since 2015 when she was convicted for drug charges after she was caught in possession of smuggled heroin inside her suitcase in 2010.
During her trial, Veloso said she was tricked into bringing the suitcase, which she was not aware had drugs inside, in Indonesia by her recruiter.
Veloso’s parents said they are still afraid of the drug syndicate that implicated her, recalling the words the perpetrators told them in the early days of their daughter’s arrest.
“Natatakot pa rin kami dahil ‘yun po yung binitiwan sa salita sa min eh,” Cesar said.
Veloso’s parents then thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and President Marcos for allowing their daughter to return to the Philippines and are hoping that they will also grant her absolute clemency. (Joseph Pedrajas)
