Mary Jane Veloso’s kin hands out clemency appeal letters to Jokowi, Marcos

Mary Jane Veloso’s family on Wednesday handed out letters to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appeal for her clemency as the two leaders met at Malacañang Palace, according to Migrante.

"Kagalang galang na Pangulong Widodo, ako po si Celia Veloso, ina ni Mary Jane Velso, nagmamakaawa at nakikiusap na sana tulungan po ninyong makalaya ang aking anak na labing apat na taon na po na naghirap at nagdusa na walang kasalanan," read the handwritten letter addressed to Jokowi. 

"Sana maunawaan ninyo ako bilang magulang... Sana palayain na po ninyo alang alang sa dalawang anak ni Mary Jane," it added.

Migrante Philippines chairperson Arman Hernando told GMA News Online that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) allowed the legal counsel of the Veloso family to enter the Palace and give the letter.

“Pinayagan ng PSG makapasok si [Atty. Kathy Panguban ng National Union of Peoples' Lawyers] para ipadala ang letter,” he said in text message.'

(The PCG allowed Atty. Panguban to enter the Palace and give the letter.)

Migrante International chairperson Joanna Concepcion confirmed to GMA News Online that the letters have been received.

“Yes, napa-receive ang sulat (Yes, the letter has been received),” she said in a text message.

According to a "24 Oras" report by JP Soriano on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Indonesian President’s visit allowed for questions to be sent by the court to Mary Jane for her testimonies against her recruiters.

The DFA also said that President Marcos hoped for the discussions to end with clemency and Mary Jane’s freedom.

Veloso’s family and some organizations trooped to Mendiola in Manila to appeal to Jokowi.

“Nakakulong na daw po talaga yung may ari at nahatulan na, ano raw po at hindi pa siya tulungang makalaya?” said Celia.

Migrante expressed support to Veloso’s family and hoped that the Indonesian President would grant their appeal.

“We are one with Mary Jane’s parents in presenting an appeal letter to Presidents Marcos Jr. and Widodo,” Migrante said in a statement.

“We are appealing to President Widodo: We hope that you grant our humanitarian appeal for clemency for Mary Jane,” it added.

Migrante said Veloso has been asserting that she was innocent and was just a victim of human trafficking despite her conviction and death sentence for the crime of drug trafficking in 2010.

In 2015, Jokowi said their government gave Veloso a ”temporary reprieve” from her scheduled execution, as reported by The Jakarta Post.

Jokowi was quoted as saying that the action was a response to a request made by the Philippine government in relation to the case. 

A case of human trafficking and a separate large scale illegal recruitment case were already filed against Veloso’s traffickers Julius Lacanilao and Cristina Sergio in the Regional Trial Court of  Nueva Ecjia.  

A guilty verdict on the illegal recruitment case was handed down on the recruiters in 2020 but the trafficking case remains pending, Migrante said.

Veloso’s family was also able to visit her in her cell on Christmas with the assistance of the DFA.

“Napakasaya po namin at nagka sama-sama po kami sa pasko kasi po ilang taon kaming hindi nagkasama sama ng pasko,” said her son, Mark Danielle Veloso Candelaria. —With Jiselle Anne Casucian/VAL, GMA Integrated News