Mary Jane Veloso's family appeals to PNoy to arrest woman who recruited her

Caesar Veloso, the father of the Filipina on death row in Indonesia, pleaded with President Benigno Aquino III to arrest the woman who allegedly recruited her and tricked her into transporting drugs.

Caesar said at a forum at University of the Philippines-Diliman that he believes his daughter Mary Jane Veloso is innocent of the crime and asked Indonesian President Joko Widodo to release his daughter, GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" reported Saturday afternoon.
 
He and his wife, Celia, said earlier that Veloso was tricked into traveling with 2.6 kg of heroin by a certain Maria Kristina Sergio, alias Tintin, who allegedly recruited her for work as a domestic helper.
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs will help Caesar and Celia get to Indonesia to meet with Mary Jane. Another daughter, Marites Veloso-Laurente, has already gone ahead to Indonesia.
 
Laurente flew there Friday night bearing a notebook filled with messages from Veloso's two sons.
 
According to the DFA, it will file its second appeal for judicial review within the next two days.
 
Veloso is scheduled for execution by firing squad on April 24. She was among a group of foreigners, including a Frenchman, two Australians, and a Brazilian, who lost their appeals for clemency.

Also on Saturday, the Palace said the government will continue trying to help Veloso. 

"Patuloy pa rin, patuloy pa rin yung (pagtulong) natin. You’ve seen how we have exerted efforts, not just in this particular case, but in cases of mga kababayan natin na naililinya sa death row, talagang hanggang (sa) huling sandaling pwedeng umapela ay ginagawa natin yan para sa kanila," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News

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