Migrante: Veloso may be executed next week, PH gov’t must act fast

Filipino group Migrante International calls for convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso’s life to be spared from execution. (Photo courtesy of Migrante)

MANILA – Filipino group Migrante International worried that convicted drug trafficker Mary Jane Veloso may be included in the next batch of convicts to be executed by firing squad next week.

The initial list of convicts on death row included Frenchman Serge Atlaoui who was previously granted a temporary reprieve. Veloso, while not included in the list, has been in temporary reprieve for three months now.

Migrante secretary-general Sol Pillas then urged the Philippine government to hasten the cases of Veloso’s alleged recruiters who may prove her innocence and may spare her from execution.

“Mary Jane remains on the brink of death for as long as the death sentence is not lifted. It is incumbent upon the Department of Justice and the Philippine government to act with considerable haste and urgency and to regularly update its counterpart, the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and the Veloso family on the developments of the cases filed against Sergio et al,” Pillas said, emphasizing that Veloso’s reprieve was only temporary.

“It has been more than two months and they (AGO) are still waiting for updates. Please, let us not abuse the Indonesian government’s patience and tolerance. Every minute still counts,” she added.

Wary on the uncertainty of Veloso’s reprieve, Migrante intended to file a petition to the Indonesian Embassy asking for Veloso’s life to be spared from execution.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on the other hand, has yet to confirm the report from the Indonesian government.