DFA stays optimistic Indonesia will spare Pinay’s life

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is fully aware that death penalty cases in Indonesia are entitled to just one judicial review. Nevertheless, it said it is still willing to explore all legal and diplomatic avenues that could help save the life of Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, the Filipino woman scheduled to be executed in Indonesia, along with 10 other death row convicts, for illegal drug trafficking.

This despite the earlier declaration made by Indonesia’s attorney general that once the legal appeals of some of the death row prisoners in Indonesia have been decided upon by the Supreme Court there will be no more legal avenues left.

“Last week we... confirmed that our appeal for judicial review was denied by the Supreme Court of Indonesia but we are not losing hope,” DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose said. “Now we’re in consultation with our lawyer and we’re looking at the possibility of a second appeal for a judicial review.”

Jose, however, said he is not sure whether this is allowed under the Indonesian law.

Last Friday, Tony Spontana, the spokesperson for the Indonesian attorney general, reported that preparations are underway to move Veloso for execution after she lost her appeal in the Supreme Court (SC).

Veloso will be moved from the city of Yogyakarta to the maximum security prison on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java, where the rest of the group awaits execution by firing squad.

It is expected that her execution will be carried out immediately after she is transferred to the prison island as it does not have a special block for female inmates.

“We can say that (Veloso’s) case is done,” Spontana was quoted by Indonesian reporters as saying. “There will be preparations to move her soon because the plan to execute all (10 convicts) at once hasn’t changed.”

Four other foreign nationals in the group have also lodged last-minute appeals against their death sentences, forcing the attorney general to hold off on the executions until all legal processes are seen through.

It has been suggested that if the execution date was not yet decided, it would be better for Veloso to be transferred to the Wirogunan Penitentiary in Yogyakarta and that an isolation cell be set up there.

The Indonesian Supreme Court rejected Veloso’s request for a judicial review just days after receiving the Sleman District Court’s endorsement of her case.

Typically, it takes at least three months for the High Court to consider such applications.