Release of Mary Jane still possible – DOJ chief

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said it is still possible for the Indonesian government to free convicted Filipino drug mule Mary Jane Veloso if Philippine courts could establish that she was a mere victim of her recruiters’ illegal schemes.

Aguirre believes Indonesia is suspending Veloso’s execution pending the results of a criminal case filed in Nueva Ecija province against the overseas Filipino worker’s recruiters, partners Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao. The case is lodged with the Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court Branch 88.

“Their judicial process is waiting for the outcome of the case in the Nueva Ecija court,” Aguirre said in an interview.  “So, I believe that Indonesia will still keep an indefinite action on the case of Mary Jane precisely because of the Nueva Ecija case.”

He said Veloso’s release is possible.

“For example, if the Nueva Ecija court rules that Mary Jane is indeed a victim and that the liability is with the syndicate that preyed on her, then Mary Jane could be released in the eyes of Indonesian law, as she is merely a victim and actually not guilty of the offense charged against her,” Aguirre said.

Veloso had claimed Sergio and Lacanilao had duped her into bringing drug-laden luggage to Indonesia in 2010, when Indonesian authorities arrested her upon arriving at the Yogyakarta airport.

The death sentence on Veloso was put on hold on April 29, 2015, after the Philippine government appealed her case to President Widodo and after Sergio’s surrender to the Nueva Ecija provincial police.

As ordered by RTC Judge Anarica Castillo-Reyes, the Philippine consulate in Indonesia is set to get Veloso to testify on the large-scale illegal recruitment cases against Sergio and Lacanilao.

The justice department believes President Duterte’s recent meeting with Widodo has helped clear up the case for Veloso, as both chiefs of state have vowed respect for each other’s judicial process.

Aguirre cited for instance the recent release of 177 Indonesians, who were stopped at the Ninoy Aguino International Airport last Aug. 19 for illegal possession of Philippine passports.

“The President ordered their release because they are just victims of a Filipino syndicate involved in illegal issuance of passports,” Aguirre said. “It was an act of goodwill on our part.”