Why Duterte has not yet sought clemency for Veloso

President Duterte has yet not asked for clemency for Filipino drug convict Mary Jane Veloso since her execution has already been put on hold “indefinitely,” Malacañang clarified yesterday.

“Even before the visit to Indonesia, the execution of Mary Jane Veloso has been indefinitely deferred,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said. “Indonesia has previously agreed to allow Ms. Veloso to testify through deposition on the criminal prosecution of her illegal recruiters in the Philippines.”

Abella spoke at a press briefing, following conflicting reports here and abroad about whether or not President Duterte had sought clemency for Veloso when he met with Indonesian leader, Joko Widodo, last week.

“There was no need to make a plea for clemency as there was no scheduled execution,” he said.

But if the court eventually finds Veloso innocent in the case against her illegal recruiters in the country, Abella acknowledged that this would be the ground for plea for clemency.

“If and when the Indonesian Supreme Court decides to act on the execution, that would be the time to present the compelling evidence of Veloso’s innocence as a justification for a plea for clemency,” he said.

“In other words, as in all things, worthwhile matters are achieved by going through the process,” he added.

The President earlier raised the case of Veloso in a meeting with President Widodo in Jakarta. Duterte however declined to give details until he has talked to her family.

Widodo was later quoted in foreign new reports that Duterte has supposedly given “the green light” for the execution of Veloso. But the Palace clarified that Duterte merely told Widodo to follow their law and would not interfere with its judicial process.

“What PRRD and Widodo talked about, he respects the judicial process of Indonesia, that he will accept whatever final decision they have on Veloso. This is assuming already Veloso would have testified,” Abella said.

“These statements were interpreted as a go-signal or a green light by the foreign press,” he added.

Earlier, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. already denied the report.

Veloso was sentenced to death after being convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia. She has been given a stay of execution amid government appeals and the surrender of her alleged recruiter who duped her into bringing drugs to Indonesia.