PH continues to appeal for mercy for OFW on death row in Indonesia

THE Philippine government continues to appeal for a commutation of sentence for Mary Jane Veloso, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row over drug trafficking charges in Indonesia.

“She’s on death row so we have a request for clemency. Even the Indonesian Human Rights Commission and women’s groups, are supporting us,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said Thursday.

The statement came as he confirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta helped facilitate the visit of Veloso’s family in Indonesia.

The government continues to bank on the fact that Indonesia as a Southeast Asian neighbor and friend, would be lenient, he said.

“So every day na buhay siya, that means nakikinig ang Indonesia sa atin. In other words, hindi nila tinutuloy ang execution niya (that means Indonesia is listening to our appeal. In other words, they are not pushing through with the execution),” he said.

De Vega added that the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights is closely monitoring developments in the Philippines with regard to Veloso’s recruiters.

“Ang hinihingi naman ng Indonesian Human Right Commission para makatulong, gumalaw iyong anti-trafficking, illegal trafficking na kaso na nandito (sa Pilipinas). Mayroong kaso against doon sa nag-recruit sa kanya (What they are hoping for is progress on the illegal trafficking case of her recruiters in the Philippines),” he said.

June 21 at Tierra Pura Homes, Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

The police operation was conducted based on the intelligence reports and aimed to execute the warrant of arrest against Abdulhari issued on May 24, 2022, by Judge Anthony Dela torre Isaw of the Regional Trial Court Branch 24 in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay in connec- tion with a murder case under Criminal Case number 1-8776.

Abdulhari was the No. 7 Most Wanted Person (Municipal Level) and No. 5 (Provincial Level) of Zamboanga. The arrested ASG member was immediately brought to SPD’s District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) office for booking and mugshot.

NEW HOSPITAL IN MORONG. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, together with Bataan Governor Joet Garcia and Bataan 3rd District Representative Gila Garcia, led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Morong District Hospital in Morong, Bataan on Tuesday. Villanueva said that affordable and quality healthcare services should be accessible to everyone.