(CNN Philippines) — A member from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) dispelled rumors that Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino domestic worker who is on death row in Indonesia, will be executed this weekend.
Lawyer Cris Yambot of the NUPL made the clarification Wednesday (April 22) after Veloso’s family met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“Gawin nila lahat ng paraan para ma-review ‘yung kaso ng kapatid ko kasi siya talaga ‘yung inosente dito at wala talagang kasalanan,” said Darling Veloso, Mary Jane’s sister.
[Translation: “They should do everything in their power so that my sister’s case could be reviewed because she’s innocent. She’s not at fault.”]
With her was Mary Jane’s 12-year-old son, Martin Candelaria, who had nothing but words of comfort for his mother.
“Mama, mahal na mahal kita, miss na miss kita. Maraming tumutulong sa inyo dito, ‘wag po kayong malungkot diyan,” Candelaria said.
[Translation: Mom, I love you very much and I miss you so much. A lot of people here are helping you so please don’t be sad.”]
The DFA, meanwhile, said they will be sending five of Mary Jane’s family to Indonesia.
Caesar Veloso, Mary Jane’s father, and her Filipino legal team are currently in Indonesia meeting with her Indonesian lawyers.
Mary Jane’s legal counsels earlier planned to make a second appeal for judicial review, but haven’t filed the documents needed as of posting time.
Related: Binay vows to appeal against Veloso’s execution to Widodo
“As of today, the lawyers haven’t filed any judicial appeal to the courts in Indonesia. We are conferring with different groups regarding that very urgent matter and we are just finalizing the documents and evidence needed for the judicial review,” Yambot said.
The NUPL, meanwhile, said the exact date of Mary Jane’s execution remains unclear at this point, although they were assured by the Indonesian government that the family as well as her counsels will be properly notified.
“With regards to the policy of the Indonesian government, they would notify the family and the lawyers a minimum of 72 hours before the actual execution,” Yambot explained.
“Actually we don’t know when it will happen, but at least we have that assurance that we will be notified at least 72 hours before that,” she added.
