Free Mary Jane, mother begs Widodo

(UPDATE) THE family of Mary Jane Veloso appealed to Indonesia's President Joko Widodo to free her from death row.

«We have been longing to be with her. Her children are waiting for her release,» Celia Veloso said on Wednesday as Widodo met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

«We are appealing to President Marcos to discuss our daughter's case with Widodo. We believe he can do something about Mary Jane's case,» she added.

A letter written by Veloso's mother, Celia, and addressed to Widodo was hand-delivered to the palace by a lawyer representing the family.

«I am begging and pleading [with] you to help free my daughter who has been suffering innocently for fourteen years,» Celia said in the letter seen by Agence France-Presse.

«Today is the [39th] birthday of my daughter… I am hoping that she would be released.»

A separate letter from the family addressed to Marcos said: «You are our only hope.»

Veloso's supporters claim she went to Indonesia for a job as a maid and was duped by an international drug syndicate into carrying heroin.

Neither Marcos nor Widodo mentioned Veloso's case in their prepared remarks delivered to the media after their meeting.

It is unclear if she was discussed during their talks or if Widodo received the letter.

Widodo is set to leave office in October after reaching the end of a two-term limit.

On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said he had renewed the appeal for clemency during a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi.

Manalo previously sought clemency for Veloso in 2022.

Last year, Marcos said he mentioned Veloso's case with Widodo during the 42nd Asean Summit held in Indonesia.

Representatives from Makabayan Bloc, the National Union of People's Lawyers and other groups held a rally for Veloso in Manila.

«It is very important that the appeal to free Mary Jane will come from our President. The meeting that is about to happen today is an opportunity for the President to directly appeal to President Widodo,» Migrante-International Chairman Joanna Concepcion said.

WITH AFP