PH execs now in Indonesia for Mary Jane Veloso turnover

Officials from the Philippines arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday morning for the turnover of convicted overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso.

Led by Department of Foreign Affairs undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, the Philippine officials left Manila at around 9:15 p.m. on Monday and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport past midnight on Tuesday, according to Emil Sumangil's report on Unang Balita. 

De Vega will head to the Philippine Embassy to finalize Veloso's papers. 

"Magmi-meet kami ng delegation, kasi narito rin ang NBI. Sa gabi.. 'yung meeting with the Indonesians para sa turnover," De Vega said. 

(We will meet with the delegation because the NBI is also here. The meeting with the Indonesians for the turnover will be in the evening.)

A press conference regarding the turnover is set to be held today. 

Asked where the turnover will take place, De Vega said that it will take place "most likely at the airport."

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is expected to make a statement about Veloso's transfer.

Veloso is currently detained at the Women's penitentiary in East Indonesia.

Arrival

Mary Jane is expected to arrive in Manila early Wednesday, and her lawyer is hoping that her family will be able to see her at the airport.

"Lalo na sa sitwasyon ni Mary Jane. Eh halos 15 taon na hindi nakita rito sa Pilipinas. Kung nakita man nila, sa piitan lamang 'yan at minsanan lang doon sa 15 taon na 'yun. Mahalaga 'yan... Lohikal naman na bigyan ng pagkakataon 'yung pamilya na salubungin siya," said Atty. Edre Olalia, Veloso's lawyer. 

(Especially in Mary Jane's situation. She hasn't been seen here in the Philippines for almost 15 years. If they did, it was only in jail and only in those 15 years. This is important... It's logical give the family a chance to see her when she arrives.)

The DFA said Philippine officials are now in touch with Veloso's family regarding her transfer and arrival. 

"DOJ ang in-charge diyan. Baka sa airport, baka sa Bureau of Corrections, pero DOJ is in touch with the family," De Vega said.

(The DOJ is in charge of that. Maybe at the airport, maybe at the Bureau of Corrections. But DOJ is in touch with the family.)

Case

Veloso, 39, is on death sentence for drug trafficking after she was caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin in Indonesia in 2010.

In 2015, then Indonesian President Joko Widodo said their government gave Veloso only a "temporary reprieve” from her scheduled execution in relation to alleged human trafficking.

In January, Veloso’s family sent letters to Widodo and Marcos to appeal her clemency.

Last November, Marcos said  Manila and Jakarta reached an agreement to transfer Veloso to the Philippines, thanking new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his government for their goodwill. 

Veloso's parents, Cesar and Celia, appealed to the Philippine government for her to be transferred to a safe local facility due to concerns over threats coming from the international drug syndicate that implicated her. 

Malacañang said Veloso’s homecoming to her homeland is “the fruit of more than a decade of persistent discussions, consultations and diplomacy.”  

—VAL, GMA Integrated News