By Zaldy De Layola

MANILA – OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino on Friday met with the family of Mary Jane Veloso to reaffirm her commitment to push for Veloso’s clemency.
Veloso’s parents, Cesar and Celia, along with her siblings, Darlene and Maritess, traveled from Nueva Ecija to visit her at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City where she has been detained since her arrival from Indonesia in December.
While the family is in Manila, Magsino said she took the opportunity to meet with them to hear their concerns and offer reassurance of continued support for their plight.
“Ipinapakita ng sitwasyon ni Mary Jane ang panganib na kinakaharap ng maraming OFWs. Pero nandito kami para sa ibang OFW at kay Mary Jane (Mary Jane’s situation shows the danger faced by many OFWs. But we are here for other OFWs and for Mary Jane),” Magsino said.
“We will continue to stand by her and provide the necessary support for her and her family,” she added.
Veloso, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug charges, has consistently maintained that she was a victim of human trafficking.
Her execution was halted in 2015 following intense public and diplomatic efforts. Now back in the Philippines, she remains in government custody while awaiting a possible pardon.
Last week, Magsino delivered a privilege speech on the plight of incarcerated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and repeated her appeal for executive clemency for Veloso.
‘No strings attached’
In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon on Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said Veloso’s transfer to the country helped further strengthen the Philippine-Indonesia relations.
He reaffirmed that Indonesia’s decision to hand over her custody to the Philippine government had “no strings attached.”
“It strengthened kasi (because) there’s no strings attached. Ito ang decision ng gobyerno ng Indonesia and I think the reason is simply maganda ang relationship natin with Indonesia (This is a decision of Indonesia and I think the reason is simply because our ties with them is good),” he said.
“This will further strengthen our bilateral cooperation and relation with Indonesia.” (with report from Joyce Ann Rocamora/PNA)