Mary Jane Veloso Pleads to Pres. Duterte on Her Birthday

Detained overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso celebrates her birthday today, January 10, behind barS in Indonesia. The Filipina convict wishes to be allowed to testify against her traffickers.

In a statement released for the media, Veloso asked President Rodrigo Duterte to help her in her case.

She appealed to him saying that aside from being the leader of the country, he is also a father and his main responsibility is to protect the Filipino citizens especially if their lives are endangered.

“Pangulong Duterte kayo po ang ama ng aming bansa at isa po sa inyong tungkulin na protektahan ang inyong mga anak sa kapahamakan na nagbabanta sa kanilang buhay,”

The 33-year-old Pinay also stated that she’s aware how Pres. Duterte hates and disgusts drugs, but aside from catching the drug perpetrators, it is also important she said to let those who we were schemed to prove their innocence.

“Pangulong Duterte lubos po akong umaasa na pagbibigyan po ang aming kahilingan na payagan na tumestigo para mapatunayan ko po na wala akong kasalanan”.

Court of Appeals initially stated that letting Veloso testify by a written interrogatory would ‘violate the rights of the accused to meet their accusers face to face’.

Veloso was arrested back in April 2010 after allegedly smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin in a suitcase. She was immediately sentenced to death due to Indonesia’s stiff law against drug trafficking.

Veloso’s life was saved by a worldwide viral petition against her death penalty. Indonesian President Joko Widodo also granted Philippine government’s request to resolve the illegal recruitment case first.

This is the eight-time Veloso spent her birthday inside jail in Indonesia.

Photo credit: Manila Livewire

(Source: FilipinoTimes.net)