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Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso, who is among nine death row inmates set to be executed early hours of Wednesday, was given temporary reprieve and brought back to prison by Indonesian authorities, The Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The 30 year old housemaid and mother of two children was spared from the execution after the reports about the alleged recruiter, who is said to be tricked Veloso in carrying 2.6 kg of heroin hidden in suitcase, voluntarily surrendered to the police early Tuesday.
READ: Mary Jane Veloso delayed from execution
The Indonesia’s Attorney General spokesperson Tony Spontana told reporters that “the execution of Mary Jane has been postponed due to the request of the Philippines President [Benigno Aquino III] in relation to an alleged human trafficker who recently gave herself up in the Philippines.”
This is in relation with the last-ditch effort of President Benigno Aquino III proposing her to testify as witness as she was one of the trafficking victims of Maria Kristina Sergio.
Sergio surrendered at the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office at 10:30 a.m., saying she fears for her life.
READ: Mary Jane’s Alleged Recruiter Surrenders to Police
“At the last minute, a stay had been granted. As we conveyed this morning, we are all relieved by this welcome development. The purpose of the stay is to allow Mary Jane to give testimony in connection with the complaint filed against the recruiters,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a press briefing.
Defying appeals from foreign governments, Indonesia, after the stroke of midnight, executed on Wednesday all eight prisoners – two Australians, one Brazilian, four Nigerians and one Indonesian – except Veloso.
On Monday, the National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Human Trafficking Division filed a complaint against Sergio, her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao, and an African descent “Ike”, who are facing complaints of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and estafa, before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose said Veloso is now in Yogjakarta Prison.
DFA is still ascertaining the stay of temporary reprieve granted to Veloso
Affirmingly, Jose concluded that Sergio’s appearance few hours before the time of the execution played a big part of sparing death row convict Veloso, making her case even stronger.
“The surrender of Sergio played a big part. Initially, we informed the government that we filed charges but with surrender of the recruiter, I think that made our case even stronger,” he said.
Jose noted that DFA will focus purposely together with DOJ regarding the cases against Veloso’s recruiters.
“What we should do is vigorously pursue cases we filed against the recruiter and undertake the investigation… We will use the opportunity to enable Mary Jane to testify and give her testimony in connection with the case.That’s what we will be focusing on at this time,” he said.
READ:About 88 Filipinos Are Facing the Death Row Abroad
