May 9, 2015

On behalf of the Veloso family and the Filipino nation, we thank all supporters of the #SaveMaryJane campaign. We express our most heartfelt solidarity with all peoples of the world who worked vigorously and unrelentingly to save Mary Jane Veloso’s life until the last minute.

We especially thank our fellow Indonesian migrant workers who led the #SaveMaryJane campaign in their homeland. Truly they have shown admirable internationalism that migrant workers, all workers, around the world should emulate. Their appeal to Pres. Widodo was a crucial factor in the suspension of Mary Jane’s execution. Terima kasih! We are one with you. We fight the same fight against forced migration and labor export that have long exploited our migrant workers and put them in grave danger.

We did not waver. We said that only the people can save Mary Jane, and the people have prevailed.

The Indonesian government has suspended the implementation of the death sentence on Mary Jane until all proceedings in the Philippines are finished. This means that we must now focus our efforts to bring speedy justice for Mary Jane as a victim of illegal recruitment, human trafficking and drug trafficking.

Last May 6, Philippine authorities have finally arrested Ma. Kristina “Tintin” Sergio and her live-in partner, Mary Jane’s god-brother Julius Lacanilao. They have been charged with estafa, illegal recruitment and human trafficking by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the basis of complaints filed by Mary Jane’s parents, Celia and Cesar, and sister Maritess, and other witnesses/victims who recently surfaced.

We welcome this very positive development. Mary Jane’s case is finally on the right track. Sergio etal’s arrest will boost calls to #FreeMaryJane and bring her home to her family and her two little boys. The case is now in the stages of preliminary investigation. Mary Jane and the Veloso family’s retained private Philippine lawyers, led by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), and supported by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), have expressed willingness to work with Philippines authorities to bring Mary Jane’s traffickers behind bars.

We welcome this development but we remain vigilant. Every moment of Mary Jane’s continuous incarceration is an injustice that we cannot allow. Certainly, it would not have come to this if only her case was given prompt and sufficient attention and action by Philippine authorities.

Let us all continue to work together to bring Mary Jane home to her family. With our continuous collective prayer, actions and solidarity, with renewed commitment and resolve, we shall #FreeMaryJane.

Recommended Actions:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling on Philippine authorities to fast-track the prosecution and ensure the conviction of Sergio etal.

You may send you communications to:

H.E. President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III
Office: JP Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

Hon. Alberto del Rosario
Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
Office: 2330 Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Phils
Phone: (+632) 834-7374
Fax: (+632) 832-1597
Email: [email protected]

Hon. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Office: Department of Justice, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: (+632) 521-1908 / 526-5462
Fax: (+632) 523-9548
Email Address: [email protected] / [email protected]

Atty. Virgilio Mendez
Director, National Bureau of Investigation
Office: NBI Building. Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: (+632) 524-5084/ 524-0407/ 521-2402
Fax: (+632) 525-6895
Email: [email protected]

Chief State Counsel Ricardo V. Paras III
Officer-in-Charge, Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking
Office: c/o Department of Justice, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: (+632) 523-8481 loc. 216
Fax:  (+632) 526-2748
Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Usec. Arturo G. Cacdac Jr.
Director General, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
Office: NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Pinyahan, Quezon City
Telephone: (+632) 927-9702

Continue to disseminate and sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/indonesian-pres-joko-widodo-jokowi-do2-save-the-life-of-human-trafficking-victim-mary-jane-veloso
Like and circulate to all networks the Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso Facebook page: http://www.fb.com/SaveMJVeloso

Please send a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below:

#FreeMaryJane
45 Cambridge St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Telefax: (+632) 9114910
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: fb.com/SaveMJVeloso, fb.com/migranteinternational
Twitter: @migrante_intl
Appeal for Continued Unity and Action