PH says about 59 Filipinos abroad on death row

About 59 Filipinos abroad are facing death sentences, mostly due to murder, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday. 

“About 59,” said Foreign Affairs Usec. Eduardo De Vega in a message to GMA News Online. “Most are in countries with an informal moratorium on death penalty.” 

The DFA official said that these Filipinos are in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. 

“For those in countries like Saudi Arabia, we continue to try to find ways for them to be pardoned by families of the persons they killed,” said De Vega. 

Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker in Indonesia who is facing the death sentence for drug trafficking, returned to the Philippines after over a decade on early Wednesday. 

The 39-year-old former domestic helper hopes the Philippine government will grant her clemency.

“Gusto ko na makalaya ako… Clemency... mapawalang sala. Kasi wala akong kasalanan,” she added. 

(I want to be freed... Clemency... be found without guilt. I am innocent.)

But the Malacanang said it has yet to decide on the matter. 

“There has been no decision made yet whether or not she will be granted executive clemency,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.—LDF, GMA Integrated News