AGRICULTURAL workers and farmers belonging to the Central Luzon-based Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultural (UMA) called on President Aquino on Monday to exert all effort to save Mary Jane Veloso, who is scheduled to be executed by the Indonesian government for illegal drug trafficking.
Veloso’s parents, Cesar and Emeteria Veloso, were sacadas (seasonal workers) who used to work at the Hacienda Luisita, the sugar estate formerly owned by Aquino’s family in Tarlac. Sacadas are paid P50 daily.
This, as Aquino pleaded on Monday with Indonesian President Joko Widodo for humanitarian consideration for Veloso.
Veloso’s lawyers had filed a second petition for judicial review, on the ground Veloso was a victim of human trafficking, who was duped by a job recruiter into being an unwitting carrier of illegal drugs.
Aquino said Widodo was sympathetic and would consult with the Indonesian Attorney General on the legal issues.
Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said Widodo also promised to talk again to President Aquino during a break in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meetings later on Monday.
In an e-mail to Palace reporters, Coloma confirmed that Aquino talked with Widodo about Veloso’s case earlier on Monday morning at the sidelines of the 26th Asean Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Malaysia.
“President Aquino appealed for humanitarian consideration for Mary Jane Veloso, who was apparently duped into being an unwitting carrier of illegal drugs,” Coloma said. “He [Aquino] said President Widodo was sympathetic and was consulting with the Indonesian Attorney General on the legal issues.”
Coloma added that Aquino and Widodo are expected to resume their conversation on Monday.
Veloso, who was convicted of drug trafficking in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, was sentenced to death by firing squad.
UMA and its affiliate organization, Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), reminded Aquino that the Velosos worked for the Hacienda Luisita for decades.
The groups believe Aquino should, at the very least, exert effort to save Veloso who, they said, was forced to work abroad to escape poverty.
Ambala Chairman Florida “Pong” Sibayan said: “The Aquino-Cojuangcos amassed huge wealth and power through the sweat and blood of sacadas and farm workers, like Cesar and Emeteria Veloso. Aquino must remember this when he comes face to face with President Joko Widodo to seek clemency for Mary Jane.”
Aside from appealing to Widodo, Aquino should also appeal to other Asean leaders to urge the Indonesian leader to stay the execution of Mary Jane. The 30-year-old migrant worker had reportedly given up hope, after she was transferred to a cell for those scheduled to be executed over the weekend.
The Philippine chapter of the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS-Phils) has called on all Filipino compatriots and global supporters to press Widodo to stay the execution of Veloso.
The ILPS-Phils said Aquino’s audience with President Widodo during the 26th Asean meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, does not guarantee the safety of Mary Jane.
ILPS-Phils asserted that Veloso was wrongly convicted of drug trafficking, claiming, instead, that she, herself, was a victim of human trafficking.
Butch Fernandez with Marvyn Benaning