IN SOLIDARITY. Indonesian activists wearing masks depicting Filipino migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso attend a vigil outside the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 27, 2015. Photo by Mast Irham/EPA
(UPDATED) The Philippines says
the surrender of Maria Kristina Sergio, Mary Jane Veloso's alleged illegal
recruiter, 'played a big part' in Veloso's reprieve.
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Indonesia granted
Filipina worker Mary Jane Veloso a reprieve to allow her to testify against
alleged human traffickers, the Philippines announced Wednesday, April 29.
"The purpose of the stay is to allow Mary Jane
to give testimony in connection with the complaint filed against her
recruiters," Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a
media briefing.
Indonesia delayed Veloso's execution, which was
scheduled at around 1 am on Wednesday. (READ: PH on Mary
Jane Veloso: 'God answered our prayers')
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III earlier requested
Indonesia to turn
Veloso into a state witness. In a last-minute phone call to Indonesian Foreign
Minister Retno Marsudi on Tuesday, April 28, Aquino said this will allow
Indonesia to pin down a drug trafficking syndicate.
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman
Charles Jose added that the surrender of Maria Kristina Sergio, Veloso's
alleged illegal recruiter, "played a big part" in Veloso's reprieve.
Sergio "voluntarily surrendered" to the
Nueva Ecija Provincial Police at 10:30 am on Tuesday. She claimed she was
facing threats to her life.
Human trafficking victim
Her surrender came after the the National Bureau of
Investigation charged her – along with an African man and her
live-in partner – for illegal recruitment, estafa, and human trafficking before
the Philippine Department of Justice on April 21.
Sergio allegedly duped Veloso, a 30-year-old single
mother of two, into unknowingly smuggling 2.6 kilograms of the prohibited drug
heroin into Indonesia. (READ: The story of
Mary Jane Veloso, in her own words)
Veloso was convicted for drug smuggling in October
2010.
The Philippines requested Indonesia to reconsider
Veloso's case at least 4 times – a mix of appeals for clemency and requests for
a review of Veloso's case. Indonesia rejected the Philippines' appeals, as the
Indonesian government claims it is facing a drug "emergency." (READ: Why executions
won't win Indonesia's drug war)
The turning point was when the Philippine argued
that Veloso is a victim of human trafficking.
The Philippines asserted this in a second appeal for
judicial review, which an Indonesian court junked Monday, April 27, because only one
appeal was allowed. Aquino reiterated this in his request for Indonesia to turn
Veloso into a state witness.
"The Philippine government reiterates its
strong commitment to pursue a full investigation of those accountable for the
victimization of Mary Jane," Del Rosario said. – Rappler.com
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