Former senator Panfilo Lacson commended the efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the late former President Benigno Aquino III, who both played key roles in preventing the execution of Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia.
“The saga of Mary Jane Veloso may not have ended yet, but it is important to acknowledge the efforts of two Philippine presidents to save her from execution in a foreign land,” Lacson stated.
He noted that “Pnoy (Aquino) succeeded in temporarily staying her execution, while PBBM (Marcos) not only managed to persuade Indonesia to commute her death sentence to life imprisonment but is also facilitating her return to serve her sentence here.”
Lacson, uncertain about the specifics of the agreement between the Philippines and Indonesia regarding Veloso’s case, expressed hope that it includes provisions for her to potentially receive a presidential pardon or an early release based on good behavior, as outlined in Republic Act 10592.
On April 28, 2015, Aquino went to great lengths, which included breaking diplomatic protocols, to convince then President Joko Widodo through Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to grant Veloso a stay of execution.
The overseas Filipino worker was scheduled to be executed at the time as the Indonesian Supreme Court denied the Philippine government’s appeal for a judicial review of her case. Fortunately, Widodo listened to Aquino’s argument, sparing Veloso from capital punishment.
Lacson, who is running for senator in the upcoming midterm elections, emphasized that the contributions of other government officials, especially those from the Department of Foreign Affairs, who worked behind the scenes, should not also be overlooked.
President Marcos earlier stated that he is considering clemency for Veloso.
Veloso, who has spent 14 years in an Indonesian prison, was sentenced to death in October 2010 for allegedly smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming that she was a victim of an international human trafficking syndicate.
Veloso expressed her excitement about returning home following a deal brokered between the two nations.
