Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4) — Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople on Sunday said the Foreign Affairs department will take the lead in the case of Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia accused of drug trafficking.
“By agreement, it will be the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that will be taking the lead, primarily, for two reasons. One, it has the institutional memory and knowledge from the start of the case until today. Second, and I’m pretty sure (Press) Secretary Trixie (Cruz-Angeles) will agree with me in the importance of speaking with one voice on a case that has such very sensitive dimensions as the case of Mary Jane Veloso,” Ople said in a press briefing.
She added that she and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo have met, along with their undersecretaries, to discuss bilateral labor talks and other pressing issues, including Veloso’s case.
“I’m sure that Secretary Manalo will be, at the appropriate time, open to saying more about this case,” Ople noted.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. left the country on Sunday for a state visit to Indonesia and Singapore.
READ: Marcos leaves for Indonesia, Singapore to ‘harvest’ investments
Last Wednesday, Manalo said Veloso’s case will most likely be brought up with Indonesian officials during Marcos’ visit, though this was not confirmed by Cruz-Angeles.
“We can’t say officially. It’s always an issue, perhaps it will be broached by one or both parties. We will have to see… Since it’s a pending issue, it may be inescapable but we will announce if it is taken up,” she said in the same briefing.
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