THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has sought executive clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on Indonesia’s death row over drug conviction.

In a statement, the Office of the Press Secretary said Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo asked for Veloso’s clemency when he met Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday, September 4, on the sidelines of the state visit of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.

Manalo said Marsudi told him that she would consult the Ministry of Justice on the matter.

The DFA said they have been continuously providing consular assistance to Veloso since the time of her arrest in 2010.

It said the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta had retained the services of an Indonesian law firm to serve as legal counsel for Veloso in accordance with Indonesian laws and procedures.

“Based on the last communication of the Philippine Embassy officials, Ms. Veloso was in relatively good health at the Wonosari Women’s Penitentiary in Yogyakarta, where she is currently detained,” the DFA said.

Veloso was sentenced to death six months after she was arrested over the 2.6 kilograms of heroin recovered from her suitcase as she arrived in Indonesia.

She was spared due to a moratorium on capital punishment enacted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In 2015, she was again scheduled for execution by firing squad following the election of Indonesian President Joko Widodo as the country’s top government official.

President Benigno Aquino III made a final appeal for clemency following the arrest of Veloso’s illegal recruiters. (SunStar Philippines)