PHL to press ahead with second judicial review bid to save Mary Jane Veloso’s life
Eleven days before Indonesia is expected to execute convicted foreign drug smugglers, the Philippine government on Tuesday announced that it will press ahead with its appeal for a second judicial review on the case of Mary Jane Veloso.
Manila’s motion to re-open Veloso’s case was rejected late last month by Indonesia’s Supreme Court, but Philippine diplomats said a second review is allowed under Indonesian laws.
“Our embassy was already instructed to file the second appeal. We can already anticipate that the appeal will be filed in the next day or two, if not today,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
The lawyers hired by the Philippine government for Veloso said a copy of the High Court’s decision rejecting Manila’s first appeal for review is primarily needed to determine the grounds and basis on why its motion was turned down.
But nearly three weeks since the Philippine appeal was denied, the lawyers have not received a copy of the Supreme Court decision.
“We will not wait for it,” Jose said.
Veloso, a 30-year-old single mother, was among the several foreign prisoners, including two Australians, who were sentenced to die this year in Indonesia by firing squad on drug-related charges.
Veloso, arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport on April 25, 2010, claimed she was tricked by a close friend into bringing a suitcase loaded with 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
Indonesia said it is scheduled to proceed with the executions when the Asian-African summit or Bandung Conference in Indonesia concludes on April 24.
“We are racing against that deadline. Indonesia said after April 24 they will carry out the executions if all legal processes have been completed,” Jose said.
Philippine diplomats said they were assured by Indonesia’s Attorney General that no execution will take place until all legal procedures have been exhausted. The second appeal, they said, is part of the legal process.
In its appeal, the Philippine government argued that Veloso was not provided with a capable translator in the course of her trial.
Veloso’s case sparked protests from migrant workers and human rights groups at home and prompted calls even from the Philippines’ influential Catholic Church to Indonesia to stop the execution. —KBK, GMA News
Manila’s motion to re-open Veloso’s case was rejected late last month by Indonesia’s Supreme Court, but Philippine diplomats said a second review is allowed under Indonesian laws.
“Our embassy was already instructed to file the second appeal. We can already anticipate that the appeal will be filed in the next day or two, if not today,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.
The lawyers hired by the Philippine government for Veloso said a copy of the High Court’s decision rejecting Manila’s first appeal for review is primarily needed to determine the grounds and basis on why its motion was turned down.
But nearly three weeks since the Philippine appeal was denied, the lawyers have not received a copy of the Supreme Court decision.
“We will not wait for it,” Jose said.
Veloso, a 30-year-old single mother, was among the several foreign prisoners, including two Australians, who were sentenced to die this year in Indonesia by firing squad on drug-related charges.
Veloso, arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport on April 25, 2010, claimed she was tricked by a close friend into bringing a suitcase loaded with 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
Indonesia said it is scheduled to proceed with the executions when the Asian-African summit or Bandung Conference in Indonesia concludes on April 24.
“We are racing against that deadline. Indonesia said after April 24 they will carry out the executions if all legal processes have been completed,” Jose said.
Philippine diplomats said they were assured by Indonesia’s Attorney General that no execution will take place until all legal procedures have been exhausted. The second appeal, they said, is part of the legal process.
In its appeal, the Philippine government argued that Veloso was not provided with a capable translator in the course of her trial.
Veloso’s case sparked protests from migrant workers and human rights groups at home and prompted calls even from the Philippines’ influential Catholic Church to Indonesia to stop the execution. —KBK, GMA News
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