The Philippines renewed Tuesday its appeal for clemency for a Filipino woman on death row in Indonesia, hours before the country’s president Joko Widodo arrived in Manila for an official visit.
It was the latest high-level attempt to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso, who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin and was later sentenced to death.
She won a last-minute reprieve from the firing squad in 2015 after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested in the Philippines.
“We’re working to see whether we can find a way towards resolving the case soon, and clemency,” Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told reporters after meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi in Manila.
At their meeting, Manalo “reiterated the Philippine request for clemency to be granted to Ms. Veloso”, DFA spokeswoman Teresita Daza told reporters.
Manalo previously sought clemency for Veloso in 2022.
Widodo, who is set to leave office in October after reaching the end of a two-term limit, is due to hold talks with President Marcos on Wednesday.
The parents and children of Veloso, who turns 39 on Wednesday, are expected to join a protest near the palace.
Meanwhile, the DFA said the Philippines and Indonesia concluded their dialogue intended to review accomplishments on mutual collaboration and interest, with both countries expecting to have even more auspicious future partnership.
“Our time-honored partnership has positively evolved in a way that enables us to address the many developments through the years in our bilateral relationship, as well as the changing regional and global landscapes. I have no doubt that through the JCBC, the Philippines and Indonesia will achieve much more success in the future,” Manalo said.
Manalo and Indonesia Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi spearheaded the 7th Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in Manila.
Manalo said they took stock of the progress in the implementation of the bilateral priorities in the Philippines-Indonesia Plan of Action 2022-2027, which they signed on the sidelines of President Marcos’ state visit to Indonesia in September 2022.
The DFA chief said the plan of action covers multifaceted cooperation in political and security; border issues; regional and global issues; economic cooperation; sociocultural and people-to-people exchange; and judicial and consular matters between the two countries.
He added that both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the South China Sea, the situation in Myanmar, and in the Middle East, among others.
“We committed to continue implementing our Plan of Action towards further elevating our bilateral relations to new heights, especially as we mark the 75th Anniversary of Philippines-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations this year,” Manalo stressed.
The JCBC is the primary dialogue mechanism between the Philippines and Indonesia to review accomplishments on mutual collaboration initiatives, exchange views on issues of mutual interest, and consider plans for enhancing cooperation. AFP with Rey Requejo