Update for Mary Jane Veloso's case

The 30 years old Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso was expected to be executed on Tuesday April 28, 2015 in prison island Nusakambangan in Cilacap, Indonesia. She will be executed with 8 others: two from Australia, one from Brazil, four from Africa, and one from Indonesia. Veloso was arrested and sentence to death in 2010 for attempting to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of heroin into Indonesia. She has been on Indonesia's death row for the fast five years. But on last minute before her execution, Indonesian President Joko Widodo decide to delay her execution to ensure she get's ''justice'', following the new developments in her case here in Philippines. Widodo made the statement on Wednesday, April 29 , several hours after the Indonesian government announced the delay of Veloso's execution that he maintained and ''listens and pays attention to human rights activist''.

The decision to delay the execution was taken by President Widodo after receiving reports about an ongoing legal process in the Philippines. He said, ''because the legal process is still ongoing, we must ensure Mary Jane Veloso deserves justice''. Veloso's alleged recruiter, Maria Christina Sergio, surrendered to police on Tuesday. The Philippine Department of Justice is set to begin its preliminary investigation on Sergio and two others allegedly involved in the Veloso case on May 8. Sergio, her partner Julius Lacanilao, and a certain ''Ike'' have been charged with human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and estafa. But Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, clarified that the delay in the execution “does not cancel the death penalty” on Veloso. There was a new evidence. We respect the law in the Philippines and we will clarify. The law will still go on, but this does not cancel the death penalty. At this stage, this does not cancel the execution, Purdijatno said. He added that following Sergio’s surrender, “we will question Mary Jane as a witness''.

My conclusion is:  Never accept bags from strangers!

In foreign airports,  especially, you might meet kababayans who have gone over their baggage limits and request you to pass off one of their bags as yours. Don't do it!

You don't know what those bags contain. Politely but firmly decline. It's good to be kind;  but it's better to be safe, especially when you're traveling. Let them hate you by not helping them, all the love in the world won't save you if those bags happen to contain illegal substances. And even if those bags contain nothing but chocolate bars, excess baggage is an avoidable problem, and it shouldn't be YOUR problem. You shouldn't have to take the risk. It is probably not a good idea to accept bags from neighbors or "friends" either.

I'm referring to a real-life case, Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who was sentenced to death in Indonesia for transporting heroin in the lining of a suitcase that she says had been given to her by a neighbor, someone she knew and trusted. The one thing we can do, is moving forward, and to make sure that something like this will not happen again.

Be aware and don't become a victim of drug traffickers

If someone would ask you: "Can you do me a favor and die for me?" What will you answer that one?
Keep this in mind always, when someone is asking you to carry even a little "gift" for a friend abroad. Never ever do like that!

Over 70 Filipinos are on death row in other countries for various crimes, most of them involving illegal drugs. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), there are 77 Filipinos on death row abroad, most of them in Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia: 27 (26 for murder and one for drugs)
Malaysia: 24 (18 for drugs, four for murder, and two for murder with rape)
China: 19 (all for drugs)
USA: 2 (both for murder)
Vietnam: 2 (both for drugs)
Kuwait: 1 (for murder)
Indonesia: 1 (for drugs)
Thailand: 1 (for murder, rape, and theft)

Since 2010, seven Filipinos were executed, most of them in China.

In 2011, Sally Ordinario Villanueva, Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain were executed by lethal injection in China for drug smuggling. Ordinario Villanueva and Credo were executed in Xiamen, while Batain was executed in Shenzhen.

In the same year, a 35-year-old unnamed Filipino male was also executed China, specifically in Liuzhou County, Guangzhou, also for drug trafficking.

In 2013, a 35-year-old Filipina who was convicted in China for carrying six kilos of heroin in January 2011 was executed.

The following year, Carlito Lana was executed in Saudi Arabia for killing his Saudi employer in 2010. He was beheaded.

Earlier this year, Joven Esteva, 39, convicted for killing his employer and injuring his employer's son in 2007, was executed in Saudi Arabia.

So to all who wish to go abroad for work. You dream for a brighter future for your family but please do remember: It is better to reach our dream by working hard. It is a good feeling that you reach your dream slowly but surely on your own sweat and blood. Don't be blinded with the offer of easy and big money to carry such things like drugs in other country. So many OFW's fall for the bait of drugs syndicate and they are the one who face the consequences. Focus on your goal of giving brighter future to your family by working legally. This time you are far away from home. YES, but this will only last for few years. Work hard, save money and think of what business (even a small one for a star) you can do if you have money to start living again in the Philippines together with your love ones. Be happy and contented of what you have. And everything will fall into places.