MANILA (UCAN): The family of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking 13 years ago, pleaded with Indonesian authorities to show mercy.
The Veloso family and pro-life groups in the Philippines called for commuting her sentence to life imprisonment as reports emerged of her poor health in jail after she was diagnosed with a malignant ovarian cyst.
“We just talked to her this morning, and she told us that she is in pain because the cyst is growing fast and has caused her to bleed. Her health condition is stable, but I think she needs to have an operation,” her mother, Celia Veloso, said on June 29.
She urged Philippine labour and immigration authorities to allow her to visit her daughter in Indonesia to take care of her although under Indonesian law, family members are prohibited from staying with convicts.
“I hope they will allow her to seek medical treatment. We have a history of cancer and even a prisoner like her has every right to seek medical attention,” the mother added.
Veloso’s lawyer, Ryan Pinoa, claimed her client had “every right” to seek medical treatment despite being on death row due to international humanitarian law that binds all nations.
“A convicted felon’s rights, especially human rights, do not end upon the reading of the sentence. If a felon is sick, the state that has custody over his or her has the obligation under the law to provide him or her with the treatment that he or she needs,” Pinoa said.
We just talked to her this morning, and she told us that she is in pain because the cyst is growing fast and has caused her to bleed. Her health condition is stable, but I think she needs to have an operation
Pinoa and the elder Veloso argued that her medical condition was grounds the commutation of her sentence from death to life imprisonment.
“Right now, we are not asking for clemency but merely a commutation of the sentence because of the cyst which we all fear is malignant. A commutation is an act of leniency that reduces the punishment. Mary Jane is still a criminal, but she will suffer a different penalty,” Pinoa added.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, vice-chairperson of the Catholic bishops’ Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, said the Church is ready to mobilise groups, including schools, to urge Indonesian authorities to cancel the execution, should Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo decline the family’s request.
“We will ring our churches’ bells to pray for Mary Jane. We will not abandon her until the end. Life must always be respected,” Bishop Santos said.
Bishop Santos said that Veloso has suffered long enough given her crime and her medical condition. “With Mary Jane’s medical condition, she must be given reprieve or be freed for humanitarian grounds. She must be given treatment especially because of her ovarian cyst,” the bishop said.
We fight for justice for Mary Jane because she was merely a victim of illegal drug peddling in a foreign state. She was a victim, not a criminal… In fact, the people behind were already arrested and in jail
Philippine pro-life group Buhay, however, claimed Veloso should not be executed because the purported mastermind who used her as a drug mule surrendered in the Philippines way back in 2016.
The group organised a rally in the Manila calling for her release.
“We fight for justice for Mary Jane because she was merely a victim of illegal drug peddling in a foreign state. She was a victim, not a criminal… In fact, the people behind were already arrested and in jail,” Buhay chairperson, Paulo Jover, said.
In April 2015, Veloso’s imminent execution by firing squad was halted after former president, the late Benigno Aquino III, pleaded with the Indonesian government to allow her to testify in one of the cases against her alleged illegal recruiter.
Veloso, who is now 38-years-old, was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase with 2.6 kilogrammes of heroin. She was sentenced to death in October of that year.
Last year, the current Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., filed an official bid for her pardon.
