— President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his arrival statement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 in Pasay City on Tuesday (April 28) from his successful participation in the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, Malaysia. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — A leftist group on Wednesday said President Aquino should not take credit for the reprieve given to Mary Jane Veloso.
In a statement, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said: “BS Aquino has no moral authority to claim this victory as his. We maintain that the inept leadership of BS Aquino has put Mary Jane’s life on the line. The time to account has come, Mr. President.”
She noted the Philippine government did not do enough to prevent Veloso and many more like her from leaving the country.
Malacanang said the surrender of Maria Kristina Sergio, Veloso’s alleged recruiter, was instrumental in Indonesia’s decision to temporarily spare the Filipina from facing the firing squad at dawn on Wednesday.
No less than Indonesia’s Attorney General confirmed that Veloso was spared after President Aquino made an appeal that Veloso be used as a witness in the impending case against her recruiter Maria Kristina P. Sergio, also known as Mary Christine Gulles Pasadilla.
“There was a request from the Philippine president regarding the perpetrator who’s suspected of committing human trafficking and surrendered in the Philippines. Mary Jane is needed for her testimony,” Tony Spontana, the spokesman for Indonesia’s Attorney General, said in a text message to media.
Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma confirmed that the text message contained the exact message that President Aquino gave Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Langkawi Tuesday.
He said the message was conveyed to the Indonesian foreign minister.
Coloma said Sergio’s surrender opened a window for President Aquino’s appeal to turn Mary Jane into a witness.
Palabay said the reprieve “is a show of the power of the collective action of the Filipino people and the international community. Indeed, a people united will never be defeated.”
She added: “the tireless efforts of Filipino migrant workers and their families, the brilliant public interest lawyering of human rights lawyers, and the unwavering persistence of the broad public, both within and outside the country, became one strong force behind this temporary victory.” (MNS)