Binay renews appeal to Widodo: Spare Pinay from death

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay appealed again yesterday to Indonesian President Joko Widodo for the commutation of death sentence of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) convicted of carrying a suitcase containing illegal drugs in Indonesia in 2010.

“I am once again appealing to President Widodo’s good heart for the commutation of the death sentence of our kababayan, Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, who is scheduled to be executed in Yogyakarta,” he said.

“I ask this, with the deepest bond of brotherhood and friendship of our peoples, a bond that I am confident will only grow stronger in the years to come.” 

The presidential adviser on OFW concerns made the appeal after the Indonesian Supreme Court dismissed Veloso’s plea for judicial review.

“We are saddened that the Indonesian Supreme Court has chosen not to grant Mary Jane’s lawyers’ request for a judicial review of her case. Nonetheless, we reiterate the Philippines’ full awareness and respect for Indonesia’s laws and legal system,” he said.

Binay said the widowed mother of two was not part of any organized drug syndicate as she was a victim herself.

“She was unwittingly taken advantage of by a person to whom she gave her complete trust and confidence when the latter asked her to hand carry a piece of luggage containing illegal drugs,” he said.

Binay wrote Widodo earlier this month to convey the Filipinos’ hope and prayer that the Supreme Court of Indonesia would look kindly and with compassion on the circumstances surrounding the case of Veloso.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said the government will continue to exhaust all possible legal means to save Veloso from the firing squad following the Indonesian Supreme Court’s denial of her appeal for judicial review.

The government presented the request for judicial review through a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.

Veloso, 30-year-old single mother, said a friend had asked her to bring suitcases to Indonesia, but that she was not aware the suitcases contained illegal drugs.

She arrived in Indonesia in 2010 as a tourist.

Christof Heyns, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, also appealed to the Indonesian government to stop the execution of Veloso and other prisoners for drug-related offenses.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the available information suggests that the 14 people were convicted after unfair trials.

Twelve of them are foreign nationals who did not receive adequate interpreting services or the right to translators or lawyers at all stages of their trials and appeals.

Veloso was arrested at Java’s Yogyakarta airport carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin on a flight from Malaysia.

Indonesia plans to execute 10 convicted drug smugglers, including Veloso, at the same time.

However, it would wait for any outstanding legal appeals to conclude.

The cases of Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, leaders of the so-called “Bali Nine” drug syndicate, are currently on appeal.

Meanwhile, Binay called yesterday for a full and impartial investigation on the death of three Filipino teenagers during an operation against undocumented workers in Sabah last March 21.

“The Philippine government is concerned about the treatment of Filipinos abroad, regardless of their work status,” he said.

Binay said he backs a separate investigation of the DFA on the incident. 

“Our countrymen risk leaving their homes and families to live and work decently abroad, and even as we respect the laws of the countries they are in we nonetheless ask that they be treated humanely,” he said.

The Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur said Nordin Akang, 16; Lahudin Nasir, 17; and Alex Nasir, 18, died during an operation of the Eastern Sabah Security Command against undocumented individuals at the Lahad Datu public market.

Binay said the three brothers suffocated when they hid in a narrow space under the central market during the raid.

“I condole with the family of the deceased, and I ask that we pray that they find peace and comfort amid this grave loss,” he said.

Binay reminded Filipinos planning to leave the country to go through the proper and legal channels to ensure that they have the government’s protection and to avoid becoming victims of trafficking and illegal recruitment syndicates. – Helen Flores, Pia Lee-Brago