De Lima rejects proposal to take Veloso case to int’l court

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday rejected the proposal to take to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) the case of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipino sentenced to death in Indonesia.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. JOAN BONDOC/PDI

“Let’s not talk about this for now. What is important, and this is what we told the Indonesian government, is that we respect their laws, their legal processes,” De Lima told reporters.

Lawyer Harry Roque, head of the University of the Philippines Institute of International Legal Studies, earlier suggested taking the case to ICJ in hopes of stopping her execution.

But such an appeal, Roque said, should be given a go-ahead by President Benigno Aquino III.

“Trust na lang muna [sa Indonesian government], especially (since) they are our (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbor and partner. This case must not at all affect the good relations between Philippines and Indonesia,” De Lima said.

The DOJ has created a task force to explore the legal options for Veloso. RC

RELATED VIDEOS