Drug trafficking suspect surrenders

Sergio fears retaliation from relatives of Veloso scheduled for execution in Indonesia Sergio asked for 7,000 pesos, a mobile phone, and a motorcycle driven three-wheeled vehicle from Veloso for sending the latter to Malaysia.

An illegal recruiter and a suspected drug trafficker surrendered to the police for fear of retaliation from relatives of an overseas Filipina worker who was to be executed in Indonesia yesterday night following her conviction for drug trafficking in 2010, a senior official said.

After her surrender to police authorities in Talavera, Nueva Ecija (northern Luzon), Kristine Sergio, also known as Christine Pesadilla will be charged with human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and estafa (swindling) for illegally sending Mary Jane Veloso to Malaysia in 2010 even if there was no employer waiting for the latter, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

Sergio asked for 7,000 pesos (Dh685), a mobile phone, and a motorcycle driven three-wheeled vehicle from Veloso for sending the latter to Malaysia, de Lima said, adding the story came from Veloso’s confession to a team of investigators of the Manilabased National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who visited her in a prison in Indonesia.

When they (Veloso and Sergio) arrived in Malaysia, Sergio finally revealed that there was no work for Veloso, but an employer would be waiting for her in Indonesia. Both of them were supposed to go to there, but at the last minute, Sergio decided to stay in Malaysia, de Lima said.

Sergio could also be liable for assisting drug traffickers. Sergio allegedly introduced an African national named Ike to Veloso, who gave the latter in Malaysia luggage that contained 2.6 kilograms of cocaine which were seized from her as she entered Yogyakarta Airport in 2010, de Lima said.