Mary Jean Veloso Spared from Firing Squad

Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino death-row prisoner in Indonesia has been spared from execution by the Indonesian government Thursday morning after the last-minute plea made by the Philippine government.

Filipino death-row prisoner Mary Jane Veloso, wearing an Indonesian traditional costume, poses during a fashion show to mark Indonesian woman's emancipation Kartini day at Wirogunan prison in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 21 April 2015. © BIMO SATRIO/epa/Corbis

Veloso was spared after her recruiter her that made her drug courier surrendered to police in the Philippines on Tuesday.

According to Veloso, her recruiter Maria Kristina Sergio sent her to Indonesia bringing a suitcase with 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden beneath it. Veloso has consistently maintained her innocence.

On the otherhand, the eight of the Bali Nine: Indonesian Zainal Abidin, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Brazilian Rodrigo Gularte, Nigerians Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Raheem Agbaje Salami, Okwudili Oyatanze and Ghanaian Martin Anderson were not spared and were executed by firing squad.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Wednesday that Veloso has received temporary reprieve from the Indonesian government minutes before her scheduled execution.

“We are relieved that the execution of Mary Jane was not carried out tonight. The Lord has answered our prayers,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose told reporters at a stakeout at the department’s headquarters in Manila.

In a radio interview over DZMM, Veloso’s mother, Celia, expressed delight over the news.

"Totoo po pala yung sinabi sa akin ni Mary Jean kanina, na kahit isang hibla o isang minuto na lang kung gusto akong buhayin ng Diyos mabubuhay ako," Celia said.

From Inquirer.net, Minerva Lopez of the National Union of People’s Lawyers also said Veloso’s private lawyer Edre Olalia had confirmed from Indonesia that Veloso’s execution was stopped by Indonesian authorities.

“Attorney Edre Olalia said that the implementation of the sentence as regards Mary Jane Veloso was suspended until the proceedings in the Philippines against the alleged recruiter Christina Sergio shall have been commenced and concluded,” Lopez said during the vigil for Veloso outside the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City.