DAVAO CITY – Religious groups on Monday held a Thanksgiving Mass at Nuestra Señora de Guia (Ermita Church) for overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso who is still in death row.
The mass was attended by members of the Catholic Bishops Council Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, Association of Major Religious Superiors Philippines-Center for Migrants Concerns, and the Church Task Force to Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso.
The groups said they hope to educate and involve the public in the campaign to save Veloso.
“We want to express our gratitude for Mary Jane Veloso’s reprieve from execution two months ago, as well as lift up our prayers and petitions for Mary Jane to be removed from death row, recognized as a victim of human trafficking, and extended pardon,” said Fr. Resty Ogsimer, CS, Executive Secretary, CBCP-ECMI.
Ogsimer said when Veloso is recognized as a victim of human trafficking “she is not liable for any illegal act, or crime, committed while she was being trafficked.”
Meanwhile, Nardy Sabino, spokesperson of Church Task Force to Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso, said they are concerned for Veloso “is still in danger”.
“Our meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there is no written document assuring that Mary Jane will continue to be given a reprieve from execution by firing squad. While the DFA says Mary Jane’s temporary reprieve was granted on legal grounds, namely a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with Indonesia, Undersecretary Jesus Yabes was forthcoming that there is no legal document detailing Mary Jane’s reprieve,” said Sabino.
The Church Task Force to Save the Life of Mary Jane Veloso also invited the public to sign their online petition at www.change.org/savemaryjane.
The petition now has nearly 430,000 supporters, Sabino said. (davaotoday.com)
