For the past few days, she and the rest of her family have been in despair because of Mary Jane’s still unclear fate.
The Indonesian government, after all, has already moved Veloso to the prison island of Nusakambangan, where death sentences are carried out.
Related: Indonesia moves death row inmate Veloso to execution island
According to Laurente, the only thing tiding them over through the fact that they would have little chance of saving Mary Jane from execution is their faith in God.
“I feel so, so, so sad about what happened to my sister, especially now because we only have a small chance, but we still have a big chance when it comes to God,” Laurente said in an exclusive interview with CNN on Friday (April 24).
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Laurente recalled the moment when she found out that her sister was arrested at the Yogyakarta Airport in 2010.
“I wished that I was with her — beside her. How I wish that I’m always beside my sister because I know her very well,” Laurente said. “She doesn’t deserve this.”
Laurente added that if Indonesian President Joko Widodo wouldn’t spare Veloso’s life, he would be making a grave mistake.
She also reiterated that Mary Jane was just a victim of the people who tricked her into smuggling drugs into Indonesia.
But Laurente admitted that her youngest sister had been nothing but brave during the entire ordeal — something that they considered uncharacteristic because, out of their brood of five, they’d known Mary Jane to be the most timid.
Death wish
Laurente also relayed that Mary Jane had already come to terms with her situation and that she had only two wishes.
First: To see her family before she dies.
Second: For her remains to be brought back to Manila after the execution.
Veloso made her second request after discovering that those executed in Indonesia are cremated. This, according to Laurente, is something that Mary Jane does not want.
“Gusto niya iuwi ang bangkay niya ng buo,” Laurente said.
[Translation: She wants her body to be brought home whole.”]
Look after my children
Mary Jane also asked her family to look after her sons. She admitted that one of her fears was that her sons would grow up resenting God for taking their mother away too soon.
Maritess also revealed that they were concerned about the well-being of their 59-year-old father Ceasar, who suffers from a heart ailment.
According to Laurente, their father had already tried to kill himself thrice because he couldn’t bear the thought of going on living with Mary Jane dead.
Veloso’s father distraught
At present, Mary Jane’s father and her sons are undergoing counseling.
Meanwhile, Celia, Mary Jane’s mother, expressed her heartbreak.
“Kung puwede lang na ako ang parusahan nila sa kasalanang ‘di naman ginawa ng anak ko, mas gugustuhin ko kung puwede sana ‘yon,” she said.
[Translation: “If only I can take my daughter’s place and die for a crime that she didn’t commit, I would. If only they’d let me.”]
Maritess too has had a difficult time keeping herself together.
She recalled that at one point, she even asked Mary Jane to tell her where she drew her strength from.
To this, Mary Jane answered: “This is God’s will.”
Mary Jane is innocent
While a second appeal for judicial review will be officially filed in Indonesdian courts on Monday (April 27), Indonesia will not put pending executions on hold.
The Indonesian government stands by its previous announcement that death sentences will be carried out once the 2015 Asian-African Conference is concluded.
Celia Veloso statement
A case against the people who allegedly tricked Veloso to transport illegal substances for them, on the other hand, has been filed by the Philippines’ Justice Department.
Despite these developments, Maritess remained disheartened.
