CA bars Veloso testimony vs recruiters

The Court of Appeals (CA) recently reversed the ruling of a regional trial court (RTC) judge in Nueva Ecija and disallowed the taking of the deposition of overseas worker Mary Jane Veloso, who is on death row in Indonesia.

In an 18-page decision, the CA’s Eleventh Division granted the plea filed by alleged illegal recruiters Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao against Branch 88 Judge Anarica Castillo-Reyes, who issued a resolution on Aug. 16, 2016 allowing the prosecution to take the testimony of the 32-year-old Veloso, convicted of smuggling 2.6 kilos of heroin in 2010, by way of deposition in Indonesia.

Veloso’s lawyer Edre Olalia is expected to file a motion for reconsideration before the CA.

Olalia, who said they received a copy of the CA’s decision on Dec. 22, 2017, expressed disappointment that his client’s testimony “is being prevented by our own courts.”

The decision was penned by CA Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr., and was concurred by Associate Justices Manuel Barrios and Renato Francisco.

The CA said the persons accused of recruiting Veloso have the right to meet witnesses face to face and to confront and cross-examine them.

Veloso was granted a stay of execution in 2016 after the Philippine government said her testimony would be vital in the human trafficking charges filed against her alleged illegal recruiters Sergio and Lacanilao.

That same year, Reyes granted the prosecution’s plea to take Veloso’s deposition and said she would preside over the process.

Reyes also said Sergio and Lacanilao’s right to confrontation would be safeguarded since they would have the right to cross-examine Veloso through written questions.

The two suspects said they should be given the opportunity to cross-examine Veloso at the time when the testimony is given in open court and not during the deposition taking.