Press Statement

June 23, 2022

MIGRANTE International, the global alliance of Filipino migrants’ organizations challenges the new administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to act accordingly on the deposition of Mary Jane Veloso after the recent SC decision clarifying the Executive department prerogative to respond to the Indonesian government’s proposal such as the proposed change of venue. The Supreme Court ruling in 2019 allowed for the deposition of Mary Jane to be conducted inside the Philippine Embassy but this was stalled after the Indonesian government proposed another venue.

Instead of immediately acting on the proposal made by the Indonesian government, the Duterte administration did not move a finger to push for Mary Jane’s deposition to show his support on the fight against human trafficking and for Mary Jane to be reunited with his family, according to Ms. Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of MIGRANTE International.

Ms. Concepcion also mentioned that MIGRANTE International holds the Duterte administration accountable for the prolonged stay of Mary Jane in jail and we call on the new administration of Marcos Jr. to rectify this and show his support in the fight against human trafficking. MIGRANTE International together with the Veloso family and her migrants’advocates has been calling to save the life of Mary Jane whose execution was suspended after a global protest to stop the execution and save the life of Mary Jane was launched and an illegal recruitment case was filed against her alleged human traffickers, Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao.

Ms Concepcion further said that MIGRANTE International supports the statement made by Atty. Edre Olalia, National President of the National Union of Peoples Lawyer (NUPL) and private counsel for Mary Jane Veloso and her family as good news. The March 21, 2022 decision made by the SC Special Third Division through Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando noted that the executive branch “need not obtain the assent of the judiciary in accepting, rejecting, or modifying the conditions set by Indonesia.”

MIGRANTE International vows to continue the campaign to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso and to actively coordinate with the Veloso family including migrants’ organizations, advocates and human rights groups in Indonesia to convince the Indonesian government that Mary Jane is a victim and not a drug trafficker, Ms. Concepcion added.##