Mary Jane Veloso may be saved from death if proven she was a victim —De Lima

Justice Sec. Leila de Lima on Wednesday said Mary Jane Veloso may be saved from execution if it is proven that she was a victim of drug trafficking.

"If it is proven in the ongoing investigation that she's a victim, maybe there's a chance that she will be saved from death sentence. But that's an aspiration. We're looking at a possible executive clemency, but we don't want to be repeatedly saying that at this point because we don't want the Indonesian government to be pressured about it," she told lawmakers during a House committee hearing.
 
De Lima added: "Ang usapan is magtulungan tayo to solve the drug trafficking problem in the region, particularly [regarding the] West African syndicate."

De Lima told the House committee on dangerous drugs that the Philippine government has requested the ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance from both Indonesia and Malaysia to help in their investigation, as the country does not have such bilateral agreement with either countries yet.

While she said she cannot disclose which particular areas of assistance they are asking for, the De Lima said, "It has something to do with how to build up the cases against (Veloso's) recruiters."

It's also "to verify Veloso's claim in her March 31 sinumpaang salaysay (sworn statement)," where she said she is "a victim of a drug syndicate, that she didn't know the contents of the luggage she brought to Indonesia."

De Lima pointed out that a similar request was made to Malaysia "because it served as the transiting point of the apparent drug trafficking."

The MLA may allow the prosecutor of the case in the Philippines, of which Veloso is the complainant witness, to request to conduct clarificatory questioning with the Filipina in Indonesia.

Veloso 'needed in trial'

No definite time has been set on the temporary reprieve granted to Veloso, the DFA said in the same hearing.

For their part, De Lima said they have an internal deadline for their investigation, which will be followed by filing of a case with the court, and then the trial.

She added that Veloso will definitely be needed in the trial.

"She's practically the private complainant, so kailangan siya in the course of the trial," she said. "That is why we just send regular updates to the Indonesian government para maintindihan nila why kailangan si Mary Jane."  —KG/KBK, GMA News


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