Veloso family now calm, but DFA and OFW groups still at odds

Weeks after seeing her sister Mary Jane Veloso saved from execution in Indonesia, Marites Veloso-Laurente is finally freed from nightmares of gunshots and wailing mothers.
 
"Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, 'di ako nanaginip kagabi," Laurente told GMA News Online during an event at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
 
Mary Jane's older sister underwent counseling after returning to the Philippines because of recurring dreams of the night when foreigners on death row in Indonesia were executed via firing squad.
 
"Na-trauma po ako dun... Gabi-gabi ako nananaginip tungkol sa putok ng baril, tungkol dun sa pag-iyak nung babae dun na yung boyfriend niyang Nigerian," Laurente said.
 
Her mother Celia remains the family's rock despite unavoidable moments of sadness while her father Cesar has recovered from his fainting spells during the 72-hour notice for her sister's execution.
 
"Dahil nga sa nangyayari sa kaso ni Mary Jane, talagang lumalaki ang pag-asa na makakauwi. Kaya medyo masaya ang pakiramdam nila nanay ngayon at bilang mga anak nila, natutuwa kami na makita na 'di na sila nalulungkot tulad noon," Laurente explained.
 
Veloso's children Mark Daniel and Mark Darren have also regained hope in their mother, their hero, getting cleared of drug trafficking charges and returning home.
 
"Nag-undergo rin sila ng counseling. Ngayon, masayahin sila, kaya lagi silang magkasamang magkapatid. Naging mas-close silang kapaid, naglalaro sila. 'Di na sila ganun katahimik at 'di na nagtatanong-tanong palagi na bakit ganung yung nangyari sa mama nila kundi tinatanong na nila kung kailan uuwi yung mama nila," Laurente recalled.
 
The continued financial help by supporters has also made the family's continued struggle easier despite the aid only covering their basic needs.
 
"Simula nung nangyari ito, talagang nai-stop na kaming magkakapatid sa paghahanap-buhay at salamat naman na maraming tumutulong na kahit hindi siya sapat, kahti papano, yung mga pama-pamasahe, napapalitan," Laurente said.
 
She hopes that Veloso could go home soon in order for the family to set its affairs back to normal.
 
Greater hope, but no concrete ETA
 
Laurente says that a lot has changed since her sister was pardoned, due to Ma. Cristina Sergio slowly divulging information on her alleged trafficking of Veloso.
 
"Unti-unti nang umaamin itong si Tintin. Una, sabi niya hindi niya kilala si Mary Jane. Ngayon, kilala na niya at sinasabi niyang inosente si Mary Jane ngayon kahit na pinasinungalingan niya lahat ng sinabi namin," she said.
 
Yet even with all these advancements, Edre Olalia of the National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said it will still take a long time for the 30-year-old mother to be cleared of smuggling 2.6 kg of heroin into Indonesia.
 
"You can never measure talaga the exact percentage but we'll do our best and will shoot for the total exoneration, at the best, and commutation, at the minimum," Olalia explained.
 
However, he and Veloso's other lawyers are confident that they will have enough factual and legal basis for her case to ensure her freedom.
 
"We are confident na hindi lang yung legal basis pero may factual basis na para maging basis for her eventual coming home," Olalia said.
 
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier stated that it will continue to pursue the complaints against Sergio, as her surrender was "vital in securing the reprieve of Mary Jane".
 
While NUPL and Migrante remain at odds with the government, neither side are opposed to working with the administration to help Veloso and other OFW's in need of legal assistance.
 
"The ball is in their court. Matagal na nating sinasabi na we are willing to coordinate and cooperate on a principal level towards a common objective of helping the OFWs. We're just waiting," Olalia said. — GMA News

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