The Indonesian government’s goodwill on the case of convicted overseas Filipino workers(OFW) Mary Jane Veloso reflects the strong leadership of President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the goodwill shown by the neighboring country also mirrors the good relationship between the Philippines and Indonesia and the government’s commitment to protecting its OFWs.
In a Palace briefing, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said Indonesia’s goodwill “demonstrates the leadership of President Marcos, his close ties with the Indonesian government, and the Philippine government’s commitment to protecting its overseas workers.”
De Vega also emphasized Indonesia’s longstanding support for the Philippines.
“The very fact that Ms. Veloso is still alive to this very day” is indicative of the government’s hard work for over a decade and the warm ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, he added.
On the other hand, Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said the Philippines is grateful for the “act of grace” of the Indonesian government.
“We, again, thanked the Indonesian government for this act of grace. We also attribute this to the good relations and the good friendship which our President has [with] the Indonesian government and specifically President Prabowo [Subianto],” Clavano said.
Veloso was convicted for drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2010. She has been on death row for 14 years.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday that the Philippine government is looking forward to Veloso’s repatriation. He thanked the Indonesian government for the goodwill.
“After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her execution long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” the President said early Wednesday on his official X account (@bongbongmarcos).
Meanwhile, De Vega said Indonesia has not asked anything in return for Veloso’s impending repatriation.
“There are a lot of speculations as to what was the return or what was the condition. The Indonesians have not requested any payback…this is not in return for anything,” De Vega clarified. (PND)
