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Fighting Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio appeals to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to spare the life of Filipina worker Mary Jane Veloso, drug mule convict who is set to be executed on Tuesday, April 28 according to her lawyer.
Pacquaio made a televised personal appeal in a live report aired over GMA News TV’s Balitanghali saying, “On behalf of my countryman, Mary Jane Veloso, and the entire Filipino people, I am begging and knocking on your kind heart that your excellency will grant executive clemency to her by sparing her life and saving her from execution,” he said.
“Mr. President, on May 2, I will be fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada against [Floyd] Mayweather, which is considered the fight of the century. It will be a great morale booster if in my own little way I can save a life.
“I am dedicating this fight to my country and the entire Asian people to which the Philippines and Indonesia belong.”
Veloso faces death by firing squad after she was arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport in 2010. Authorities have discovered 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside her baggage. She remained firm that she did not know there were drugs in her luggage.
Few days from now, Pacquiao is set to share the ring match against undeafeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in Manila).
Earlier, Celia Veloso, Mary Jane’s mom, urged Manny to appeal for her daughter’s life, saying that she is not a drug courier or a member of any drug syndicate but a victim of drug trafficking.
Noting that Pacquaio’s appeal may bring a change to the court decision, older Veloso says, “Kung nanonood man o nagbabasa ng dyaryo o nakikinig ng radyo si Manny Pacquiao, sana, Manny, tulungan mo ang anak ko. Magsalita ka naman kahit kaunti lang alang-alang sa kanyang dalawang anak. Nakikiusap ako sa iyo, kaunting salita lang. Ikaw, malakas na malakas dito sa Indonesia. Matunog na matunog ang pangalan mo sa laban na ito. Sana maski kaunting salita lang ang ibigay mo. Salamat, Manny.”
Pacquaio urged his fellow Filipinos to pray for Veloso.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, ipag pray natin si Mary Jane Veloso. Ipag-pray natin,” he said.
