VP Binay to Pinay death row convict’s parents: PHL to exhaust all legal means to spare her life

Vice President Jejomar Binay has assured the parents of Filipino death convict Mary Jane Veloso that the government will exhaust all “legal remedies and options” to spare the life of their child.
Celia and Cesar Veloso, parents of the Filipino woman currently on death row in Indonesia, met Binay, presidential adviser on OFW concerns, at the Makati City Hall Sunday and discussed the Philippine government’s next move to save their daughter from the death penalty.
 
Binay called up Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Minda Calaguian-Cruz during the meeting and the latter assured the Vice President that the government will be filing a second petition for judicial review.
Veloso, 30, was sentenced to die by firing squad after she was apprehended at Java’s Yogyakarta Airport in April 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage.
The Philippines has earlier asked Indonesia's Supreme Court to review the case of Veloso, saying the latter was not provided a capable translator in the course of her trial. The appeal, however, was rejected.
 
Jakarta has previously said it will wait for any outstanding legal appeals to conclude before executing all 10 drug convicts—including Veloso—at the same time.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario earlier said that they are now in consultation with a lawyer for the second appeal and exploring other options including an appeal to Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo. 
 
During the meeting with Binay, Veloso's mother denied that the heroin seized from her daughter were hers. She said the illegal drugs were allegedly secretly put there by a certain Christine, who she added was the wife of her daughter’s godbrother.
 
“Hindi nga po alam ng anak ko. Wala po talagang kaalam-alam,” Celia told Binay.
 
“Bag lang pong maliit ‘yong dala ng anak ko. Dalawang piraso lang po. Kaya lang po, matalino ‘yong (si Christine) talaga. Binilhan po ng maraming damit. Noon pong aalis na raw po [papunta] sa Indonesia, may nakita raw siyang papasukan do’n, inabot po ‘yong maleta,” she added.
 
Binay recently renewed his appeal to Widodo to commute the death sentence of Veloso.
 
The Vice President also wrote Widodo earlier this month to “convey to (Widodo) the (Filipinos’) hope and prayer that the the Supreme Court of Indonesia will look kindly and with compassion on the circumstances surrounding the case of (Veloso).” —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News

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