BINAY HOPES TO PERSONALLY APPEAL MARY JANE VELOSO CASE TO PRESIDENT WIDODO

BINAY HOPES TO PERSONALLY APPEAL MARY JANE VELOSO CASE TO RESIDENT WIDODO

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will leave for Indonesia on April 22 to attend the Asian–African Summit in Bandung but he will use the visit to make a last-ditch effort to personally appeal to President JokoWidodo to spare the life of Filipina worker Mary Jane Veloso.

“I am hoping that we will be given the opportunity to personally appeal to His Excellency’s kind heart for the commutation of the sentence of Mary Jane,” Binay said.

The Vice President said while he is saddened that the Indonesian Supreme Court has chosen not to grant Veloso’s first request for a judicial review of her case, the Philippine government reiterates its respect for Indonesia’s laws and legal system.

But Binay said he hopes Indonesia will look on Veloso with compassion, since she is not part of any organized drug syndicate. “She, too, was a victim,” he said. The Vice President said a person whom Veloso trusted and knew personally “took advantage of her trust when she asked Veloso to hand carry a luggage containing illegal drugs.”

“I intend to bring to His Excellency our people’s hope for compassion, given the circumstances surrounding the case,” Binay said.

The Vice President noted that just recently, President Widodo had appealed to the King of Saudi Arabia not to execute an Indonesian domestic worker.

“I am certain His Excellency understands why we in government are doing all we can to save the life of our kababayan. It is the responsibility of governments to come to the aid of their countrymen, especially those in difficult circumstances,” he said.

The summit will gather leaders from 29 countries “to discuss peace, security, and economic development in the midst of emerging problems in many parts of the world.”

While in Indonesia, the Vice President will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, on issues concerning Philippines and Indonesian relations.

The Vice President is also set to attend activities hosted by Indonesian President Widodo, including a 20-minute historical walk from Savoy Homann Hotel to Gedung Merdeka.

Binay, who concurrently serves as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers’ Concerns, is also scheduled to hold a dialog with the Filipino community in Indonesia. 

ASKS FOR PRAYERS 

VP Jejomar C. Binay asked for prayers for Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino worker in death row in Indonesia.

“Sama-sama tayong magdasal,” Binay, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filpino Workers Concerns, told reporters before departing for Indonesia for the Asian–African Summit in Bandung.

“Pinagpapalagay kong ‘yong chances na hindi s’ya mako-convict. Kasi sa aking palagay e if you read between the lines e ‘yong bang we have to inspect the legal system e we have to respect the findings though we are appealing in judicial process. Tingnan natin. Pagdasal natin. Hindi naman nag-rosaryo ang kababayan natin na mangibang-bansa,” he said.

“Unang-una, itong ating kababayan naman e ngayon lang lumabas ng Pilipinas ‘to. Hindi katulad no’ng iba [na] in and out, in and out. Lalong lalo na sa Indonesia, hindi naman ito nag-in and out. Pangalawa, hindi naman [sa hindi] natin nirerespeto ‘yong legal system nila. Nirerespeto natin. ‘Yon lamang, ako personally, ang appeal ko e huwag naman s’yang ma-execute.” 

“Pangatlo, nagkataon lang na napasama [ang kababayan natin] do’n sa ibang mga foreigner na talagang under questionable [circumstances]. Pang-apat, mukhang talagang biktima lamang itong kababayan natin ng mga paki-pakiusap e. May nabasa ako ro’n sa kanyang testimony na hanggang sa huling sandali tiningnan naman n’ya ‘yong bag e. Palibhasa, siguro [naive] itong ating kababayan. Hindi nakita ‘yong taguan ro’n. Pang-lima, from a Filipino point of view, hindi ko talaga maisip-isip na isang babae e mapa-firing squad,” Binay said.

He also discussed the possibility of visiting Veloso in Yogyakarta, as well as her parents who are in Jakarta during his stay.

Binay also reiterated his call for OFWs to be doubly careful in accepting packages to be brought to other countries even during instances that family members or friends themselves ask for the favor.

He also expressed hope that in the future, OFWs would choose to go abroad for professional growth and not because they were pushed by desperate circumstances. 

“Pangalawa, sana mangyari sa kinabukasan, ang mga OFW ay nagpupunta sa ibang bansa not because of need but because of professional growth,” he said. /MP