Gov’t happy with SC decision allowing OFW to testify vs recruiters

August 15, 2020

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government was ''happy'' with the Supreme Court decision that Mary Joy Veloso can testify against her recruiters.

''We are happy with the decision because we can see that Ms Veloso, who became a victim will have her testimony listened to by the court,'' said Roque.

On Friday the High Tribunal sustained its earlier ruling allowing Veloso to testify against her recruiters for sending her to Indonesia.

Veloso was arrested at Yogyakarta Airport and sentenced to die by firing squad in 2015. Veloso said she did not know she was carrying drugs, claiming her luggage was given by her recruiters.

Philippine officials sought a reprieve after they told their Indonesian counterparts Veloso's recruiters were under police custody.

In a resolution on Friday, the SC’s Special Third Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the Public Attorney's Office, acting as counsel for Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, Veloso's alleged recruiters.

The High Tribunal upheld its 2019 decision, saying Veloso should be allowed to testify through deposition against her recruiters.

“The Court further resolves to deny the motion with finality, the basic issues raised therein having been duly considered and passed upon by the Court in the aforesaid decision,” the high court said.

The Nueva Ecija trial court is hearing Veloso's case against her recruiters. DMS