Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The family of death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso flew to Yogyakarta, Indonesia on Monday (January 11) — a day after her 31st birthday.
Mary Jane’s parents, together with her two children, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday morning bringing tarpaulins with “Happy Birthday, Mary Jane” printed on them. Her children also also brought some birthday gifts for her.
Mary Jane’s mother, Celia, expressed her wish for her daughter on her birthday — “Ang wish ko po sa birthday ng aking anak sana po ay makauwi na po sya at ng makapiling na namin at makapiling na nya yung mga anak nya.”
[Translation: My wish for my daughter is for her to come home soon so we can spend time with her and she can spend time with her children.]
Veloso’s family flew to Indonesia with two Department of Foreign Affairs officials, a representative of Migrante, and Veloso’s lawyer Atty. Ed Olalia.
The Veloso family is hoping the postponed execution last April 29, 2015 will eventually be called-off by the Indonesian government.
Veloso was sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking, but has been spared after her recruiter Kristina Sergio was arrested and brought to custody by the Philippine police.
Veloso has claimed that she was tricked by Sergio into bringing the heroin to Indonesia in 2010.
The Veloso family will be in Indonesia for five days and will be back in Manila on January 16.
