In open letter, Mary Jane Veloso asks for release to take care of elderly parents, children

Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who was convicted abroad for drug trafficking, has appealed to authorities to grant her freedom and allow her to take care of her elderly parents and her children after 16 years of being apart.

Veloso made the appeal in a handwritten open letter dated January 28 that was released by Migrante International on Sunday afternoon.

“Para sa inyong lahat na patuloy na sumusuporta sa akin saan mang bansa o kumunidad po kayo nagmula humihingi po ako ng tulong sa inyong lahat,wala na po akong ibang hiling kung hindi ang makapiling kung muli ang aking pamilya na naihiwalay sa akin ng higit kumulang 16 years,” she wrote. 

(To all of you who continue to support me, wherever country or community you are from, I continue to ask for your help. I wish for nothing more than to be with my family who have been separated from me for more than 16 years.)

“Nawa’y ipagkaloob na po sa akin ang pagkakataon na maalagaan ko ang aking mga magulang habang buhay pa sila at lalong-lalo na ang aking mga anak na hindi ko man lang nasubaybayan ang kanilang paglaki, gusto kong ipadama sa kanila na mayroon silang isang ina na sobrang nagmamahal sa kanila.”  

(I hope to be given the opportunity to take care of my parents while they are still alive and especially my children whom I did not have the chance to watch grow up. I want to make them feel that they have a mother who loves them very much.)

Veloso recently marked her 41st birthday in detention at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City last January 10 – her second birthday in the country since she

Indonesia agreed to transfer Veloso to the Philippines where she will be detained.

Veloso spent 15 years behind bars in detention following her conviction for drug trafficking.

She was initially meted out a death sentence, but this was commuted in 2015 amid a strong appeal from Philippine officials led by the late President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy Aquino III.

Her parents, Cesar and Celia, earlier asked the Supreme Court (SC) to release her on the ground that her detention in the Philippines has no legal basis. 

In her open letter, Veloso lamented the difficulties and sacrifices of her parents, every time that they travel from Nueva Ecija to Mandaluyong City to visit her.

“Nais ko lang din po na malaman ninyo kung gaano ako nahihirapan na makita ang aking mga magulang na may edad na, nanggaling pa sa Nueva Ecija, bumiyahe ng 8-10 hours para lang bisitahin ako. At kailangan pa nilang maghanap ng pera sa kanilang pamasahe at pagkain na madadala sa akin,” she said.

(I want you to know how difficult it has been for me to see my parents who are already of old age, traveling all the way from from Nueva Ecija, for 8-10 hours just to visit me. And they have to find money for transport fares and food they can bring for me.)

“Hindi na nila inalintana ang kanilang mga nararamdaman dahil may edad na nga sila makita lang ako para maibsan ang kanilang pangungulila. Ngunit sa di maipaliwanag na dahilan, heto po ako isang taon na ang nakalipas nandito pa rin ako nakakulong kahit wala akong kasalanan at wala din po akong nagawang masama sa ating bansa,” Veloso added.

(They put aside their own health conditions and their old age to ease their longing for me. But for some reason, after one year, I am still here in prison even though I have not committed any wrongdoing, even in our country.)

She also thanked everyone who supported her in her journey.

“Ako po ay lubos na nagagalak sa inyong mga sumusuporta sa akin na may busilak / malinis na kalooban na handa akong tulungan na mapaaga ang aking paglaya. Maraming salamat po, naway Diyos na ang bahala suklian ang inyong kabutihan sa akin at sa aking pamilya,” she said. 

(I am very grateful for all of you who support me, you who are truly genuine in spirit, ready to help me attain my immediate freedom. Thank you very much and may God repay your kindness to me and my family.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News