Palace clarifies reports that President Duterte gave President Widodo go signal to execute Veloso

President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte is welcomed by Indonesian officials at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept. 8, 2016). The Philippine President flew to Jakarta for a one-day working visit to Indonesia after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos. (Photo: King Rodriguez/PPD/PNA)

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday clarified that President Rodrigo Duterte did not give his Indonesian counterpart President Joko Widodo the go-ahead to execute suspected Filipina drug courier Mary Jane Veloso.

“Regarding the supposed statements coming from Indonesia. The President just informed us that his actual statement and conversation with President Widodo was like this, he said, regarding Mary Jane Veloso, he said follow your own laws, I will not interfere,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said during a press briefing.

President Duterte and Widodo discussed Veloso’s case in their closed-door meeting during the Filipino leader’s state visit to Indonesia last September 8 to 9.

“There was none. There was no endorsement. He simply said: Follow your own laws,” Abella said.

Veloso was convicted for bringing 2.6 kg. of heroin to Indonesia in October 2010.

The execution of the mother of two has been put on hold upon the request of former president Benigno Aquino III, pending the investigation of her recruiters who allegedly duped Veloso into bringing the suitcase that contained the illegal drugs to Indonesia.

Drug trafficking is punishable by death in Indonesia.