By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that the Philippines and Indonesia are talking to come up with a “mutually agreed solution” in the case of Mary Jane Veloso.
The confirmation came after Indonesia said it would consider transferring Veloso to a Philippine prison upon the country’s request.
“I’d just like to confirm we’re doing all we can for Mary Jane Veloso. Certainly, the Indonesians and the Filipinos have been talking about this for some time, and we hope that we’ll come out with a mutually agreed solution, which will be to the utmost benefit for Miss Veloso and her family,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo Jose De Vega said in an interview on Friday night.
“We’re hopeful that we can announce something positive soon,” he added.
Veloso was jailed in 2010 and was sentenced to death in the same year after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her suitcase.
She was given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015 when Manila informed their counterparts in Jakarta that her recruiters had surrendered.
At that time, eight other drug convicts—seven foreigners and one Indonesian—were executed by firing squad.
On Nov. 11, Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction said Jakarta is “currently considering” prisoner transfer for foreign inmates, including Veloso “in line with requests from the inmate’s home country.”