Mary Jane to Indonesian President: Pardon me from the death penalty

“Grant me a pardon from the death penalty.”

This was the appeal of Mary Jane Veloso, the convicted drug mule Filipina who is set to be executed on Tuesday, April 28 according to her sister, reported by GMANews.

Veloso has requested Indonesian President Joko Widodo to pardon her in a handwritten note.

Here is the English translation by Prof. Bormen Guillermo of UP Diliman of Mary Jane’s Personal Appeal, which is formerly written in Filipino.

“To Honorable President Joko Widodo:

“I sincerely appeal to you, Honorable Sir, to grant me a pardon from the death penalty. I believe and am certain that you have a compassionate heart and are very wise to make a humane decision.

“As a mother, I have two children who are still small and need the love of a mother very much whom they love in return.

“Honorable Sir, I believe that as the father of your child, you can feel what it would be like if your child were in the position of my own children, it is surely very painful because it would take away the right of my children to be with their mother, if my plea for pardon is not granted.

“Honorable Sir, I believe that as the Father of the Indonesian Nation you should protect your children, above all those who are genuinely innocent.

“I sincerely pray to be saved from the death penalty and to be given the opportunity to bring up my children.

“May God always bless Honorable President Joko Widodo and his whole family.”

Mary Jane told her sister Marites Veloso-Laurente over the phone that the Attorney General’s Office of Indonesia confirmed the date of her execution on Saturday, according to radio DZBB report.

However, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has not yet receive an official notification from Indonesia saying that, [she] cannot be executed until the Philippines receives a notice for Veloso’s execution. Adding also, notice must be given to the convicted person and their respective embassies beforehand.