Veloso’s recruiters camp block receipt of Mary Jane’s sworn-statement at DOJ

Kristina Sergio (journal.com.ph)

MANILA — The camp of Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao on Monday tried to block the receipt by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of the sworn-affidavit of Mary Jane Veloso in connection with the complaint she filed against her recruiter.

During the hearing at the DOJ on Monday, Atty. Howard Areza from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and lawyer for Sergio and Lacanilao, argued that Veloso has not yet executed her sworn-affidavit before a prosecutor.

Areza added that it should not be taken into consideration by the DOJ in deciding on the case.

However, Atty. Rey Cortez, lawyer of the Veloso family, maintained that Veloso is in a different situation because she is currently detained in Indonesia.

It was learned that Veloso executed her sworn-affidavit before the Philippine consul in Indonesia.

In the end, Assistant State Prosecutor Susan Azarcon said that she should be allowed to make the decision on the sworn-statement of Veloso herself.

Meanwhile, the submission by Michael Candelaria, husband of Veloso, of his sworn-statement before the DOJ pushed through on Monday after he presented a Philippine passport to prove his identity.

According to the National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Human Trafficking Division (NBI-AHTRAD), the case they filed against Sergio and Lacanilao will be given more weight because Candelaria has direct knowledge about the recruitment of Veloso.