The facade of the Commission on Human Rights office in Quezon City. —File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the government on Friday to protect migrant Filipino workers in the same way it came to aid Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia who spent over 14 years in prison for drug trafficking.
Veloso was brought home to the Philippines on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the fruit of years of diplomacy between Jakarta and Manila.
Article continues after this advertisement“It is crucial that the government continues to extend the same protection and diplomatic efforts afforded to Veloso to other Filipino workers in similar situations,” the CHR said in a statement.
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Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, after being found possessing over 2.6 kilograms of heroin at the Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Article continues after this advertisementShe was set to be executed on April 29, 2015.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, she was spared at the last minute to become a witness in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) case against the West African Drug Syndicate, following appeals from then-President Benigno Aquino III to the Indonesian government.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s fight for justice
Two Philippine administrations later, in November 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the DFA announced Veloso’s long-awaited homecoming.
Ajay Banga spoke to Agence France-Presse at the development lender’s headquarters in Washington ahead of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which begin on Monday, October 21.
jack and the beanstalk slot Article continues after this advertisementCHR commended the efforts, saying: “This achievement reflects the government’s deep commitment to valuing human life and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.”
“Veloso’s case is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities many migrant workers face, particularly those preyed upon by criminal syndicates exploiting their aspirations for a better future,” it added.
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