Filipinos stage a rally and light candles to signify support for Mary Jane Veloso, who is scheduled to be executed in Indonesia on Tuesday (Photo by Maki Macaspac)
Supporters across the Philippines on Monday held prayer vigils, staged protest rallies, and issued last-minute appeals to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso, a 30-year old Filipino woman who is set to be executed by firing squad in Indonesia on Tuesday.
"We gather tonight to appeal to stop the execution of human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso," said Nardy Sabino, spokesman of the Church Task Force to Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso.
The group held an overnight vigil outside the Indonesian Embassy in Manila on Monday "to voice prayers” for the condemned woman.
"We appeal for President Widodo to think of the migrants, like Mary Jane, in countries around the world," said Sabino.
On Monday morning, Aquino issued an appeal to Widodo for humanitarian consideration for Veloso who was arrested, tried and sentenced to death in 2010 for attempting to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia.
Herminio Coloma, Aquino's spokesman, told reporters in a text message that Widodo is "sympathetic" of Veloso's plight and was “consulting with the Indonesian Attorney General on the legal issues”.
While the comments seemed to indicate the faint prospect of a reprieve, most believe it is extremely unlikely Widodo will change course on the executions which he has insisted for months are essential to stemming a national drugs crisis.
Veloso, a 30-year-old single mother of two boys, is among eight foreigners facing execution in Indonesia.
Lawyers have lodged a second appeal for an Indonesian court to review Veloso's case, arguing that the Filipino woman is a victim of human trafficking, and does not deserve the death penalty.
Hard truths
During a visit on Monday, Mary Jane gently explained to her six-year-old son Mark Darren and her eldest son, 12-year-old Mark Danielle, that she would not be coming home.
"She tried to explain again," Veloso's elder sister Marites Veloso-Laurente said during an interview in Cilacap, the port town that is the gateway to the island. "If Mumma does not go home, just think Mumma is in heaven."
Veloso’s lawyer, Edre Olalia, said "Mary Jane [is] incredibly strong, calm and composed."
In a text message, Olalia said Veloso told her family "not to feel sad and is buoying their spirits."
"She may die but she firmly maintains she was a victim," added Olalia.
On Monday, Veloso's family, Indonesian lawyer, spiritual adviser and Philippine Embassy officials traveled to Nusakambangan Prison, the Indonesian island prison where people on death row await execution.
Before entering the port gate, which is cordoned off to prevent the media from going near the family, Veloso's brother and husband unfurled a banner calling for her release.
Solidarity
Across the Philippines, people tied white ribbons and lit candles near their homes and businesses in solidarity with Veloso.
"We all should unite and save Mary Jane from death row. She is a victim of human trafficking and of grave social injustice in our country," said Cristina Guevarra, secretary general of the group Hustisya (Justice).
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao took time out from final preparations for his US$400 million showdown with Floyd Mayweather to plead for the life of Veloso.
"On behalf of my countryman, Mary Jane Veloso, and the entire Filipino people, I am begging and knocking on your kind heart that your excellency will grant executive clemency to her by sparing her life and saving her life from execution," Pacquiao said in a message to Widodo aired on national television.
According to NGO Migrante International, Veloso is the eighth overseas Filipino worker put on death row since 2010. There are at least 125 more Filipinos on death row in other countries where capital punishment is imposed.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) released a statement Monday criticizing the government’s hardline policy on the executions.
“This nation is waiting for justice, instead of the government’s courage to hold executions. The death penalty will never produce justice,” Father Paulus C. Siswantoko, secretary of KWI’s Commission for Justice, Peace and Pastoral for Migrant-Itinerant People, said in the statement.
Additional reporting by Katharina R. Lestari, in Jakarta