Indonesia asks PH gov't to keep mum on Veloso repatriation: Marcos | ABS-CBN
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Indonesia asks PH gov't to keep mum on Veloso repatriation: Marcos
Indonesia asks PH gov't to keep mum on Veloso repatriation: Marcos
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said Indonesia has requested the Philippine government to refrain from making additional announcements on the repatriation of Mary Jane Veloso until both governments have settled the matter.
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday said Indonesia has requested the Philippine government to refrain from making additional announcements on the repatriation of Mary Jane Veloso until both governments have settled the matter.
Marcos made the statement as he declined to give any comments on an earlier announcement of an Indonesian official that Veloso, who had been jailed for over a decade for transporting cocaine, could be brought home to the Philippines before Christmas.
Marcos made the statement as he declined to give any comments on an earlier announcement of an Indonesian official that Veloso, who had been jailed for over a decade for transporting cocaine, could be brought home to the Philippines before Christmas.
"We were asked by the Indonesian government not to make any announcements until everything is settled, so let's respect that request," Marcos Jr told reporters in Bulacan.
"We were asked by the Indonesian government not to make any announcements until everything is settled, so let's respect that request," Marcos Jr told reporters in Bulacan.
Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra earlier said that President Prabowo Subianto advised to have Veloso transferred to her country just in time for holidays.
Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra earlier said that President Prabowo Subianto advised to have Veloso transferred to her country just in time for holidays.
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Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said authorities were preparing for Veloso's possible transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said authorities were preparing for Veloso's possible transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City.
"If DOJ says she will have to be processed at CIW, we are prepared to process her. Of course, there is a reception and diagnostic center that will take care of her. She will be assessed. There is an isolation period of 5 days," Catapang said.
"If DOJ says she will have to be processed at CIW, we are prepared to process her. Of course, there is a reception and diagnostic center that will take care of her. She will be assessed. There is an isolation period of 5 days," Catapang said.
"After that, there is a 2-month assessment. Maybe we can make the recommendation on where she will be placed: maximum, minimum, or medium [security]," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Pasay City.
"After that, there is a 2-month assessment. Maybe we can make the recommendation on where she will be placed: maximum, minimum, or medium [security]," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Pasay City.
"We already have preparations. We anticipate that she will be brought there. She will be processed at CIW inasmuch as she was already sentenced," the official added.
"We already have preparations. We anticipate that she will be brought there. She will be processed at CIW inasmuch as she was already sentenced," the official added.
In the same event, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said Veloso would "most likely" be brought to the Mandaluyong prison.
In the same event, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said Veloso would "most likely" be brought to the Mandaluyong prison.
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"Hindi lang siya posible, most likely doon. Unless of course, after subjecting her to physical check-up, because before any transfer can be implemented in Indonesia, we have to make sure that she is not suffering from any disease or ailment," he said.
"Hindi lang siya posible, most likely doon. Unless of course, after subjecting her to physical check-up, because before any transfer can be implemented in Indonesia, we have to make sure that she is not suffering from any disease or ailment," he said.
"If she is, then she will be brought not to a corrections institute but to a hospital. That's the normal thing even in our present prison facilities, if there are persons deprived of liberty with serious diseases, they are given furloughs and they are treated in hospitals," Vasquez explained.
"If she is, then she will be brought not to a corrections institute but to a hospital. That's the normal thing even in our present prison facilities, if there are persons deprived of liberty with serious diseases, they are given furloughs and they are treated in hospitals," Vasquez explained.
The DOJ official said authorities recently visited Veloso to check on her condition.
The DOJ official said authorities recently visited Veloso to check on her condition.
"Two weeks, a month ago when the Philippine Embassy officials in Indonesia visited her, she was found to be of good health," Vasquez said.
"Two weeks, a month ago when the Philippine Embassy officials in Indonesia visited her, she was found to be of good health," Vasquez said.
He said the Philippine Embassy, Consul General and the Indonesian Corrections and Immigrations Office were finalizing details of Veloso's transfer.
He said the Philippine Embassy, Consul General and the Indonesian Corrections and Immigrations Office were finalizing details of Veloso's transfer.
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"Once the transfer arrangements, the physical arrangements have been agreed upon, we are ready to send our team to fetch her. And it would not be a big problem because all the three agencies attached to the DOJ can easily be coordinated," Vasquez added.
"Once the transfer arrangements, the physical arrangements have been agreed upon, we are ready to send our team to fetch her. And it would not be a big problem because all the three agencies attached to the DOJ can easily be coordinated," Vasquez added.
The DOJ official said it was "too early" to discuss the possibility of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granting full clemency to Veloso.
The DOJ official said it was "too early" to discuss the possibility of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granting full clemency to Veloso.
"It's too early for us to talk about clemency because first we have to count our blessings. Bring her back. That's the most important thing," Vasquez said.
"It's too early for us to talk about clemency because first we have to count our blessings. Bring her back. That's the most important thing," Vasquez said.
"As to how long she will be there or not, it's up to the lawyers and whatever the president wants. If she can be included in the clemency or whatever to serve a certain portion of the incarceration period. But we are prepared to accept her," Catapang said.
"As to how long she will be there or not, it's up to the lawyers and whatever the president wants. If she can be included in the clemency or whatever to serve a certain portion of the incarceration period. But we are prepared to accept her," Catapang said.
Veloso's mother Celia earlier expressed her wish to have her daughter back home for Christmas and spend time with her family.
Veloso's mother Celia earlier expressed her wish to have her daughter back home for Christmas and spend time with her family.
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Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said President Prabowo Subianto advised to have Veloso transferred to her country just in time for holidays.
Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said President Prabowo Subianto advised to have Veloso transferred to her country just in time for holidays.
Vasquez remained optimistic when asked about the chances of Veloso spending Christmas with her family.
Vasquez remained optimistic when asked about the chances of Veloso spending Christmas with her family.
"I would say it's great because during the meeting that we had when we signed the physical arrangements like Friday with the Chief Minister for Law, Human Rights and Corrections and Immigration, Yusril Mahendra of Indonesia, he directed the Corrections Office as well as the Immigration Office of Indonesia to initiate the talks with our Philippine Embassy officials in order to facilitate that before Christmas," he said.
"I would say it's great because during the meeting that we had when we signed the physical arrangements like Friday with the Chief Minister for Law, Human Rights and Corrections and Immigration, Yusril Mahendra of Indonesia, he directed the Corrections Office as well as the Immigration Office of Indonesia to initiate the talks with our Philippine Embassy officials in order to facilitate that before Christmas," he said.
"It could be anytime actually. And on the other hand, in order to ensure that things wouldn't be scary, right then and there, we said that we're ready, willing and able to send our team in order to bring her back here," he added.
"It could be anytime actually. And on the other hand, in order to ensure that things wouldn't be scary, right then and there, we said that we're ready, willing and able to send our team in order to bring her back here," he added.
Veloso was arrested in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside her luggage and was later sentenced to death.
Veloso was arrested in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside her luggage and was later sentenced to death.
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She was set for execution in 2015 until the last-minute arrest of her recruiter, who allegedly place the illegal drugs in her suitcase without her knowledge.
She was set for execution in 2015 until the last-minute arrest of her recruiter, who allegedly place the illegal drugs in her suitcase without her knowledge.
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