San Carlos bishop calls for clemency for Mary Jane Veloso

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza has added his voice to groups calling for clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, who had been in jail in Indonesia for more than 10 years and is expected to return to the country soon as part of the "transfer of custody" agreement between the Philippine and Indonesian governments.

Bishop Alminaza, in a statement posted in his social media account, provided a short account of Veloso's incarceration as well as quotes of Pope Francis on human trafficking in the 2015 World Day of Peace message and exhortation on the 2024 International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.

The advocacy group Migrante and church-based Task Force Save Mary Jane launched a petition asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant Mary Jane clemency.

The signature campaign is supported by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), which as private lawyers of the Velosos have advised Task Force Save Mary Jane.

"When Mary Jane Veloso left the Philippines in April 2010, she was going to Malaysia to work as a housemaid/domestic worker. Unfortunately, she had fallen into the trap of human traffickers who tricked her into unknowingly carrying a suitcase lined with drugs to Indonesia," he said.

"Mary Jane ended up being arrested in the yogyakarta airport and within a few months she had been sentenced to death by firing squad," he added.

Veloso, he also said, "is not unlike many of our kababayan who leave the Philippines at a rate higher than 6,000 a day; many are desperate to earn for their families and carry hopes of becoming breadwinners for their loved ones."

But in April 2015, he recalled, there was a global movement #SaveMaryJane and a few weeks before a scheduled execution her parents related her story to the media.

"Through the call for help, a miracle grew with thousands upon thousands joining a global appeal to save human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, a spirit of cooperation took root between countries, cultures and even faiths," said Alminaza.

Mary Jane was spared from being executed by a temporary reprieve.

"She would be given the opportunity to testify against her accused traffickers. More than nine years have passed and Mary Jane is still waiting to testify," the prelate said.

With the new development, that is, with the Philippine and Indonesian governments facilitating her transfer of custody will allow her to be presented as state witness in the ongoing human trafficking and illegal recruitment trial of her traffickers in a Nueva Ecija court.

"The faith of Mary Jane is a lesson for us all. Even after a deepest betrayal by her traffickers, Mary Jane believed in God's hand on her life. Mabubuhay siya," Alminaza said.

He lifted a quote from Pope Francis' message on the 2024 International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, "Let us help one another to be more responsive, to open our lives and hearts to our sisters and brothers, who even now are being bought and sold as slaves. It is never too late to take action."

"We cannot help but walk with her in solidarity, joining the prayers for her immediate and full clemency on humanitarian grounds, as a victim of human trafficking. we cannot help but continue in HOPE that granting her freedom will be as easy as Isang Hibla... for a little bit of mercy will make the world less cold and more just this Christmas," said Bishop Alminaza. — BAP, GMA Integrated News