Dear Editor,
THE National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) joins the Filipino people in the call to save the life of OFW Mary Jane Veloso who has been sentenced to death by the Indonesian Government allegedly for drug trafficking. According to accounts, she was a victim of a drug syndicate and was in Indonesia only because she was told a job as a domestic helper awaited her there.
Mary Jane is a single mother of two who flew to Dubai in 2009 to work. She returned a year later after her employer attempted to rape her. In April 2010, she was illegally recruited by a friend to work in Malaysia. But upon setting foot in Malaysia, she was told the job was not available anymore. The same friend persuaded her to go to Indonesia instead where she was arrested. She was duped into carrying a sizable amount of heroin in the luggage her friend entrusted to her. She was jailed then later sentenced to death by the Indonesian Supreme Court that same year. Her case was submitted for judicial review but rejected later. Indonesia is now preparing to transfer Mary Jane into the maximum security cell in Nusakambangan Island until her execution through firing squad.
Our hearts are pained whenever we hear stories like this. To think that we commemorated the 20th year of Flor Contemplacion’s execution a couple of weeks ago. Mary Jane’s case and the stories of the other OFWs on death row is one of the consequences of the exodus of people to other countries. On one hand, this is forced migration instigated by the dream of a better life for their families at home. On the other hand, migration is part of the development agenda of the state not for the workers’ welfare but for their remittances as workers overseas.
According to accounts, Mary Jane was not provided with a lawyer for her defense. She was only provided with a translator. It is the same thing that happened to Flor Contemplacion. It is the same circumstance that many Filipinos who are now on death row overseas find themselves in, especially in the Middle East. Twenty years and nothing has changed, the same government neglect that caused the death of Flor Contemplacion in 1995 is still the main reason why many OFWs are on death row.
We thus appeal to the government to immediately take action to save the life of Mary Jane. We echo the call of our migrant sisters and brothers: “we do not want another Flor Contemplacion!” While it is paramount that everything be done to save her life in the immediate, in the long run, the best way to prevent another case like this is to provide adequate jobs here in the country. Jobs that can provide decent lives for all.
We also bring Mary Jane’s case to the public’s attention and the churches around the world. Let us join together in praying and calling on the Indonesian government to heed the appeal by the United Nations and various governments for clemency.
We maintain that Mary Jane is a victim of an organized criminal drug syndicate and should not be executed. As we observe this season of Lent and Christ’s victory over death, we are hopeful that Mary Jane, with us on her side, will triumph over this darkness in her life.
Rev. Fr. REX R. B. REYES, Jr.
General Secretary – NCCP
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