Akbayan partylist calls on Jokowi to spare Mary Jane
The Akbayan Partylist has called on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to call off the execution of Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso.
In a statement released last Sept. 13 on their official website, Akbayan said Veloso was a victim of illegal recruitment and was deceived by “sinister forces” to smuggle illegal drugs into Indonesia.
“Mary Jane Veloso is an exploited drug mule, duped into allegedly transporting illegal drugs into Indonesia by sinister forces who sought to profit t her expense,” the statement read.
Akbayan said President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of the execution will not serve Veloso and her family justice and is a validation of the “anti-poor slant” of the war on drugs.
On Sept. 12, Widodo told the press that Duterte has given his blessing to proceed with Veloso’s execution, saying the Filipino President told him (Widodo) to go ahead and follow the laws.
The Indonesian Antara news agency reported that according to Widodo, “President Duterte has given the go-ahead to proceed with the execution.”
However, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press conference that there was no endorsement from Duterte to execute Veloso, saying that Duterte only told Widodo to “follow your own laws.”
Akbayan also urged the Philippine government to continue to appeal for justice over Veloso’s case.
Veloso was arrested at the Audisucipto International Airport in Yogjakarta, Indonesia, on April 25, 2010, for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death six months after her arrest.
She was supposed to be executed on April 28, 2015, but has received temporary reprieve from the Indonesian government just minutes before her scheduled execution.###
