De Lima takes custody of Veloso’s alleged recruiters

JUSTICE Secretary Leila personally went to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame on Wednesday afternoon to take the custody of Mary Jane Veloso’s alleged recruiters.

“They will be turned over to us since the National Bureau of Investigation is the agency probing the illegal recruitment, swindling and human trafficking charges against them,” de Lima told reporters in an ambush interview.

Before de Lima arrived in Crame, Ma. Kristina Sergio and his live-in partner Julius Lacanilao was transferred from Nueva Ecija police to the PNP headquarters to seek protective custody in a “more secured camp.”

Sergio and Lacanilao were accompanied by Public Attorney’s Office chief Lawyer Persida Acosta.

Sergio and Lacanilao are facing charges for illegal recruitment, human trafficking and estafa as the National Bureau of Investigation filed cases before the Department of Justice on Monday against the couple and an African national known only as “Ike.”

Sergio, also known as Mary Christine Gulles Pasadilla, has been under police custody when she sought help from assistance from police on Tuesday citing threats to her security.

She claimed that some individuals have been threatening to harm her if Veloso’s execution will push through.

Before dawn Wednesday, the Indonesian government granted Veloso temporary reprieve while eight death row prisoners were executed by firing squad on Nusakambangan prison island in Central Java.

The 30-year-old mother of two was caught with 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage at the Yogyakarta Airport in 2010. AC

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