Nueva Ecija court issues arrest warrant vs. Mary Jane recruiters

A Nueva Ecija court has ordered the arrest of the alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso, who was supposed to be executed in Indonesia last April 29 for drug smuggling but was given a last-minute temporary reprieve.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, chief of the National Prosecution Service, confirmed to reporters that an arrest warrant was issued by  the Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court against Ma. Cristina (also identified as Christina and Kristina in some reports) Sergio and her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao.

"To any officers of the law... you are hereby commanded to arrest Ma. Christina P. Sergio aias Mary Christine Gulles Pasadilla and Julius Lacanilao who is/are said to be presently detained at the lock-up cell of the National Bureau of Investigation, NBI Building, Taft Avenue, Manila, and other John and Jane Does, charged of the crime of large scale illegal recruitment and to bring him/her/them before me as soon as possible to be dealth with accordingly to law," read the arrest warrant.

The warrant was issued by Judge Nelson Tribian of the Batoc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecjia RTC Branch 37.

The two are facing charges of large-scale illegal recruitment, which were filed last May 8. They are currently under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila. Before that, they were kept under protective custody of the Philippine National Police.

Sergio and Lacanilao turned themselves in to local police in Nueva Ecija last April 28, hours before Veloso's supposed execution via firing squad.

Veloso was sentenced to death in Indonesia for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin in April 2010. She said in her affidavit that she was tricked by Sergio, who supposedly promised her employment in Indonesia, into bringing the package. —KBK, GMA News

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