Philippine’s Duterte To Visit Filipina On Indonesia’s Death Row
By UCA News
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to visit Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino woman on Indonesia’s death row for drug trafficking, during an official trip starting on Sept. 5.
“I’m praying that I can do something for her,” said Duterte in a speech on Aug. 31.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, head of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said it is “very assuring that our president offered help.”
The prelate called on the president to expedite legal proceedings against the people who trafficked Veloso and turned her into a “drug mule.”
“It is better that our president ask the court to speed up the trial and present the court decision to Indonesia to help determine Mary Jane’s fate,” said Bishop Santos.
Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
In October 2010, she was sentenced to death but was granted a last-minute stay of execution after her case drew international protests.
The Indonesian government granted Veloso a reprieve so she could act as a witness during the trial of her alleged traffickers.
