Kin of Mary Jane Veloso, together with members of Migrante International and other groups, lit candles at Welcome Rotonda to call on the public to support the call for the Indonesian government to spare Veloso’s life as well as other Filipinos on death row abroad.

In University of the Philippines-Diliman, university professors, students and staff vowed support for Veloso and added their voice to a growing clamor for her clemency.

Supporters assert that Veloso, convicted to death in Indonesia for allegedly trafficking heroin, is a victim of human trafficking. The 30-year-old mother of two, they said, is a victim of “an oppressive system perpetuated by President Aquino.”

Edre Olalia, public interest lawyer and Veloso’s Filipino counsel, hit the government for its slow action on the case. He said that even now, government agencies have yet to provide complete information and updates, as well as copies of crucial court files, as well as link to embassy-appointed lawyer retained only after her conviction.

The Filipino lawyers led by Olalia, meanwhile, have already linked Veloso’s family up with Indonesian and foreign lawyers, as well as support groups to cooperate and collaborate with all moves to stop or stay her execution.

They also appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council “to exercise moral suasion and ask Indonesia to stop the impending execution.”

The Filipino lawyers have asked government agencies to immediately investigate her godsister Maria Kristina Sergio
“for (alleged) drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and other crimes.”

Extreme decision

Sol Pillas, Migrante International secretary-general, explained that Veloso’s case is similar to that of countless Filipinos, who were compelled to find work abroad–often in extreme situations–because of poverty.

“Because of extreme poverty, she wasn’t able to distinguish left from right anymore. Had she been given a job here, she would not have left,” said Pillas, who had been a Hong Kong overseas Filipino worker (OFW) for 28 years.

Before unknowingly bringing the suitcase full of heroin, Veloso earned by selling her homemade soup and spaghetti, Pillas said. “She’s used to working hard. We really just don’t have jobs here [in the Philippines], that give decent pay,” said Pillas.

More willing than gov’t

Mary Jane’s mother Celia Veloso, 55, supported the observation that the Philippine government “didn’t do anything that helped her daughter’s situation.”

“We waited for two years. They kept on saying: ‘We will do everything.’ But it took them  five years. They didn’t provide any help,” said Celia. If were not for Migrante International, she added, her daughter would have long been dead.

“We had hope because of Migrante. Back then, we did not have any, because we did not know where to go ask for help,” Celia said, adding that Migrante helped Veloso look for her family and helped publicize the case, which then forced the Philippine government to act.

Celia said that like many Filipinos, what she has lost hope with is the Aquino administration.

“It really pains me. Because they are going to kill my daughter. How painful is that? May daughter is innocent, and this is what happened? It’s very painful…Regarding our president, if possible, I don’t want to ask for help anymore,” said Celia.

Symptom

For its part, progressive women’s alliance Gabriela called on the public to support efforts to save Veloso’s life as her story is similar to their own struggles against poverty.

“(Veloso) is not an exception to the rule. It has become a system, where those who do not have enough means for livelihood are forced to look to other countries for work,” said Joan Salvador, Gabriela’s international relations officer.

Salvador agreed said that the government knowingly neglected Veloso’s case, which started in 2010, and reiterated the need for government to prepare for measures for the long-term insurance of OFWs abroad.

“The government should make sure that all departing OFWs are safe from abuse, also making sure that they can provide services for those who get caught in tight situations… The government earns from our OFWs. They send large amounts of money, but if they ask for help, the government can’t do anything for them,” Salvador said.

The groups said that Aquino government should be held accountable for the Veloso’s case, said Pillas. They compared the government’s apparent lack of support to OFWs with the latter’s response to the bloodbath in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, where Aquino is also accused of not doing enough to save lives.