Philippines to repatriate Filipina drug convict from Indonesia
Adds details throughout, Indonesia's presidential office comment in paragraph 8
MANILA/JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A Filipina spared from execution on drug trafficking charges in Indonesia in 2015 will be returned to the Philippines after years of negotiations between the two Southeast Asian neighbours, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Wednesday.
Mary Jane Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two, was arrested in the city of Yogyakarta, for carrying 2.6 kg (5.73 pounds) of heroin hidden in her suitcase in 2010.
Veloso was spared from going before the firing squad at the last minute in 2015 after Philippine officials asked then Indonesian President Joko Widodo to allow her to testify against members of a human and drug-smuggling ring.
The execution of eight other drug convicts went ahead, and at the time Widodo described Veloso's reprieve as a postponement. Widodo's term as president ended last month.
"After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her execution long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines," Marcos said in a statement.
"This outcome is a reflection of the depth of our nation's partnership with Indonesia - united in a shared commitment to justice and compassion," Marcos said, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his 'goodwill'.
Prabowo's office said on Wednesday that Veloso would serve the rest of her sentence in the Philippines and the reason for the transfer was "diplomacy and reciprocal partnership in law enforcement".
Veloso had always maintained her innocence, claiming to be an unwitting drug mule for a Filipina employment recruiter. She had previously worked as a domestic worker in Dubai, but left to escape an abusive employer, her legal team had said.
A court record says the recruiter asked Veloso to fly to Yogyakarta from Manila to hand over a suitcase to a man. Authorities there discovered packages of heroin wrapped in foil hidden inside the lining of her luggage and arrested her.
Indonesia has harsh anti-narcotics laws and has executed several foreign nationals, including two Australians who were leaders of the Bali Nine trafficking ring in 2015.
Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Editing by John Mair and Saad Sayeed
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
