No conditions set on Veloso’s reprieve, says Aquino

The Indonesian government did not set any conditions in exchange for the last-minute reprieve of the execution of Mary Jane Veloso, according to President Benigno Aquino III.

“Walang pinagkasunduan sa details (No agreement on the details),” was the response of Mr. Aquino in an interview in Bacolod City on Thursday after he was asked whether conditions were set to grant Veloso a reprieve.

The President also said he was up late “somewhere beyond midnight” on Wednesday sending a last-minute appeal to the Indonesian government via fax.

“Baka first, I should state na ’yung kung tayo nagpuyat … I think I sent them a letter somewhere beyond midnight, from a draft coming from the secretary of foreign affairs,” he said.

“This was transmitted by fax and was also a basis for their meeting that lasted to the wee hours of the morning.”

The President said he was only asked by the Indonesian government “how long it would take to complete our processes.”

“We’d like to emphasize that we really appreciate their taking into consideration our appeal to solve a bigger problem,” he said, adding the investigation on Veloso’s alleged recruiters was already on its preliminary stage.

The government had argued that Veloso was a victim of human trafficking and her testimony would be helpful in the investigation after her alleged recruiter gave herself up to police authorities on Tuesday.

Mr. Aquino said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima would discuss with Indonesia’s attorney general the legal processes on pursuing the drug syndicates behind Veloso’s predicament.

“I will be tasking the SOJ (Secretary of Justice) in particular to expedite the whole process of really ferreting out all of the facts so that we can bring to the bars of justice all concerned and perhaps facilitate the capture of others, especially on the drug front, who brought her to this predicament,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said representatives of the Philippine Embassy would meet with the Indonesian government next week to clarify the terms of Veloso’s temporary reprieve. RC

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