PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he never discussed with Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo the case of convicted Filipina drug mule Mary Jane Veloso, amid controversy that he had given Indonesia a green light for Veloso’s execution.
“I never – we never – mentioned about Veloso,” Duterte said in a speech delivered at the 48th anniversary of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing held in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
The President made the statement following reports that he told Widodo that the Indonesian government can now proceed with Veloso’s execution.
The two leaders met in Indonesia on September 9 to tackle several issues, including the drug problems hounding both the Philippines and the Indonesia.
Duterte noted that he merely complimented Widodo for implementing the death penalty for individuals proven to be involved in drugs. He, however, clarified that he was not specifically referring to Veloso.
“[I told Widodo,] ‘It’s good that you have a death penalty here. At least, you can bring it down to the barest minimum… Go ahead and implement the law,’” the President narrated.
Duterte said that he avoided asking Widodo to spare Veloso from execution as it would contradict his strong stance against narcotics.
“It could have been a bad taste in the mouth to be talking about at having a strong posture against drugs. And here you are, taking for something,” he said.
Duterte reiterated that he would abide by the Indonesia’s high court on Veloso’s case because “the law is the law.”
“We will respect the judgment of [Indonesian] court. Period,” the President said.
Earlier in the day, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the Philippine government would only make a plea for clemency for Veloso, only if Indonesia's high court issued a final decision on her execution.
Veloso family eyes meeting with Duterte
In a related development, Migrante International said they are hoping that Duterte will give time to meet the Veloso family.
“The Veloso family and Migrante International are hoping to meet with President Duterte so we could express our urgent concern, and to hear his side on reports coming from Jakarta,” said Migrante Chairman Garry Martinez.
He said it would better if the clarification over the confusion of reports would come directly from the President and not from his Cabinet men.
“The issue today involves two Presidents and we hope our president would talk to us and the public directly. We raise this appeal on behalf of Mary Jane's kids,” said Martinez.
To recall, Veloso has been in Indonesia’s death row since 2010 and was only given a last minute reprieve by Widodo last April 2015. (With reports from HDT/Sunnex)