Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
A militant group on Thursday assailed President Benigno Aquino III’s remarks saying he won’t waste his time arguing with the Veloso family.
Aquino said he would not engage in a verbal tussle with Celia Veloso, mother of Filipina Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia’s death row.
READ: Aquino: ‘I won’t waste my time arguing with Celia Veloso’
Reacting to his statement, Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes said there was “no sympathy or understanding in his tone.”
“Aquino thinks that explaining government’s actions to the Velosos is a waste of time. In fact he doesn’t think he owes anyone, much less the Velosos, an explanation,” Reyes said in a statement.
He said Aquino thinks that as if Celia Veloso and her family are still “sakadas” or sugar farmers in the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita. Veloso’s husband Cesar used to work in Hacienda Luisita.
He said the President continues to defend the government’s past actions even if the Veloso family has been saying that the Aquino administration’s actions were not enough.
“People expect a lot more from the President. Compassion is one of those expectations,” he said.
The camp of the Veloso’s has earlier claimed that the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has not updated them with the progress on Mary Jane’s case.
“Aquino and the DFA should also update the public and the Indonesian government on the current steps taken in the prosecution of Mary Jane’s recruiters as this is now the key in saving her life,” he said.
According to him it is of “utmost importance” that Mary Jane be proven a victim of human trafficking.
“Government better not bungle this golden opportunity to save the life of a Filipino on death row,” he said. TVJ
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