Duterte urged to ask court to fast-track case vs. Veloso recruiters

A Catholic bishop on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to ask a Nueva Ecija court to expedite the trial of the alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
Bishop Ruperto Santos noted that the Indonesian government, which put on hold Veloso's execution last year, is waiting for the results of the trial of Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao.
"It is better that our president would ask Baloc Regional Trial Court  Branch 37 to speed up the trial of Cristina and Julius," said Santos, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant Peoples (CBCP-ECMI).
"Let us remember Indonesian authorities are waiting from us, result of trial of Cristina Sergio and Julius lacanilao, to prove that MJ was trafficked and their victim as drug mule," he added
Sergio and Lacanilao are facing charges before the Baloc Regional Trial Court Branch 37 for illegal recruitment. They are accused of duping Veloso into bringing 2.6 kilograms of heroin to Indonesia in 2010.
Santos also lauded Duterte for showing interest in Veloso's case. "It is good and very assuring that our President promised to help and appeal to Indonesian president," he said.
Malacañang on Thursday said Duterte may meet with Veloso in Indonesia when he visits the country on September 8 to 9 after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related Summits in Laos. —KBK, GMA News

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