PH officials to travel to Indonesia to discuss Mary Jane Veloso transfer

Philippine officials will visit Indonesia to discuss details on the possible transfer of Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said Tuesday.

“There is a letter from Indonesia asking a face-to-face audience between the Secretary of Justice and the Minister for Human Rights and Corrections nila. The Secretary and I may go there this Friday,” Vasquez said in an ambush interview.

“I think it will be about the details on the possible transfer. We will have to discuss probably,” he added.

In November, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippine government reached an agreement with Indonesian authorities to bring Veloso back to the country.

A minister has said that Indonesia plans to return Veloso to the Philippines by the end of the year.

However, Vasquez said they are still hoping for Veloso to be home by Christmas.

“All of us are hoping na before Christmas. If it could be arranged na pagbalik namin nandyan na, e ‘di mas maganda [that when we return she will already be here, even better],” he said.

He said government officials may also request a meeting with Veloso.

Earlier, the Department of Migrant Workers said Veloso’s sister has returned to the country following her ordeal of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of her employer in Saudi Arabia. — BM, GMA Integrated News