Velosos: Sergio, Lacanilao twisted facts to evade charges

Alleged illegal recruiters Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao have twisted facts about the case of overseas Filipino workers Mary Jane Veloso to save their own neck.

 

This was the gist of the replies by members of the Veloso family on Monday in response to the counter-affidavits filed last week by Sergio and Lacanilao.

 

"Ang mga nakasaad sa Kontra-Salaysay nina Sergio at Lacanilao ay sa kalakhan, sinadya at halatang idinibuho, binago at binaluktot ang tunay at buong pangyayari para pagtakpan ang kanilang pananagutan at kasalanan," said Veloso's parents Cesar and Celia, and sister Maritess Veloso-Laurente in a joint reply.

 

Apart from agreeing with Sergio's statement that Veloso was innocent of the drug smuggling charges, the Velosos said the illegal recruiters statements were "carefully worded" to serve their own interest and evade criminal prosecution.

 

In her counter-affidavit, Sergio said Veloso, against her [Sergio's] advice, agreed to take on a job for two African-looking men they had met while in Malaysia. The job involved Veloso transporting a luggage from Malaysia to Indonesia. Veloso was arrested at the airport in April 2010 after authorities discovered 2.6 kilos of heroin sewn into the bag.

 

In their reply, the Veloso family contested Sergio's claims: "Kilala namin si Mary Jane mula ulo hanggang paa, loob hanggang labas. Taliwas sa binabanggit ni Sergio, hindi matigas ang ulo ni Mary Jane." 

 

"Sa katunayan, matatakutin ito, madaling maligaw at iyakin lalo na sa mga bagay na hindi siya ganap na pamilyar kagaya ng pagbiyahe sa ibang bansa," the Velosos added.

 

The Velosos also raised doubts over Sergio's frequent trips abroad, saying she could not afford them without a permanent job. 

 

The Velosos also denied that Mary Jane and her husband Michael Candelaria approached Sergio and Lacanilao to borrow money so she [Mary Jane] could apply for a job in Malaysia in 2010.

The Velosos also denied Sergio's claims that they had threatened her when Veloso was arrested and later given the death sentence.
 

"Isang malaking kasinungalingan at malisyosong paratang ang sinabi ni Sergio na pinagbantaan namin ang kanyang buhay gamit ang cellphone. Ni hindi man lang namin alam ang kanyang numero," said the Veloso family.

 

Candelaria denied sending threatening text messages to Sergio. "Kung totoo mang pinagbantaan ko siya, halos magkapitbahay lang kami, bakit ko pa siya kinakailangang pagbantaan sa cellphone?" he said. He added that he does not know Sergio's number. 

 

Candelaria belied Sergio's insinuation that he is involved in the illegal drug trade and that his family was in debt. 

 

"Hindi totoo ang sinasabi ni Sergio... sa diumano ay ang aking pagkakalubog sa utang, sa aking diumano ay pagtutulak at paggamit ng droga.  Ang lahat ng akusasyong ito ay hindi lamang kasinungalingan kundi malisyoso at walang basehan," said Candelaria in a separate reply.

 

"Bagama’t mahirap lamang kami, hindi ako naging iresponsableng tao. Nagtrabaho ako sa pagawaan ng lumpia wrapper, sa gabi naman ay nagtitinda ng balut," he said.

 

Candelaria dismissed the witnesses and documents presented by Sergio and Lacanilao during last week's preliminary investigation, saying they carry no weight in the criminal cases lodged against the two alleged recruiters.

 

"Wala namang sinasabi o ipinapakita [ang mga witness at dokumento] na may saysay o may direkta o kagyat na kaugnayan sa mga kasong inirereklamo laban sa kanila," Candelaria said.

Apart from the preliminary probe on charges of estafa, human trafficking and illegal recruitment related to Veloso, the two alleged recruiters face a separate charge of large-scale illegal recruitment before a Nueva Ecija court. - JJ, GMA News