PNoy on Veloso’s case: We didn’t create the problem, but we did everything to help
Following criticisms from the mother of migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso, President Benigno Aquino III on Friday maintained that his government did everything it can to save the Filipina drug convict from death row.
In a media interview in Cebu City, Aquino noted that Veloso was arrested even before he assumed the presidency.
“We did what we could. We were not involved in the creation of the problem. You must remember she was arrested, if I am not mistaken, April of 2010,” the President told reporters after Labor Day rites in Naga City.
Earlier in the day, Veloso’s mother, Celia, said Aquino’s government was not the reason why her daughter was spared from execution.
"Ngayon ay nandito na kami sa Pilipinas ay marami kaming sisingilin sa gobyerno. Sabi nila sa kanila nanggaling kung bakit hindi natuloy ang bitay ng anak ko, hindi totoo ‘yon,” Veloso’s mother said at a press briefing shortly after they arrived from Jakarta.
President Aquino refused to comment on these statements, saying he wants to see the entirety and know the context of what Veloso’s mom said.
He nevertheless said that his administration extended all the help it can to help Veloso and her family, including high-level talks with Indonesian officials.
“What more can the government do? From the counsel that were provided, from the intercessions done through with President [Joko] Widodo, with foreign ministers, through the Attorney General…. Iyong, di ba, bringing the entire family there also,” Aquino said.
The President likewise stressed that the Philippine government did all of these fully aware of Indonesia’s tough stance against illegal drugs.
Veloso was spared from execution by a firing squad early Wednesday, after Aquino made a last-minute appeal to the Indonesian government to turn the Filipina convicted on drug charges into a witness.
Aquino told the Indonesian foreign minister on Tuesday morning that Veloso’s testimony is necessary to catch the drug syndicate that supposedly duped her into smuggling heroin into Indonesia, following the surrender of her alleged recruiter. —KBK, GMA News
In a media interview in Cebu City, Aquino noted that Veloso was arrested even before he assumed the presidency.
“We did what we could. We were not involved in the creation of the problem. You must remember she was arrested, if I am not mistaken, April of 2010,” the President told reporters after Labor Day rites in Naga City.
Earlier in the day, Veloso’s mother, Celia, said Aquino’s government was not the reason why her daughter was spared from execution.
"Ngayon ay nandito na kami sa Pilipinas ay marami kaming sisingilin sa gobyerno. Sabi nila sa kanila nanggaling kung bakit hindi natuloy ang bitay ng anak ko, hindi totoo ‘yon,” Veloso’s mother said at a press briefing shortly after they arrived from Jakarta.
President Aquino refused to comment on these statements, saying he wants to see the entirety and know the context of what Veloso’s mom said.
He nevertheless said that his administration extended all the help it can to help Veloso and her family, including high-level talks with Indonesian officials.
“What more can the government do? From the counsel that were provided, from the intercessions done through with President [Joko] Widodo, with foreign ministers, through the Attorney General…. Iyong, di ba, bringing the entire family there also,” Aquino said.
The President likewise stressed that the Philippine government did all of these fully aware of Indonesia’s tough stance against illegal drugs.
Veloso was spared from execution by a firing squad early Wednesday, after Aquino made a last-minute appeal to the Indonesian government to turn the Filipina convicted on drug charges into a witness.
Aquino told the Indonesian foreign minister on Tuesday morning that Veloso’s testimony is necessary to catch the drug syndicate that supposedly duped her into smuggling heroin into Indonesia, following the surrender of her alleged recruiter. —KBK, GMA News
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