Outgoing DFA Chief Bares Education Fund for Veloso Children
MANILA – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario disclosed on Friday that he set up an education fund for Mary Jane Veloso’s children using his own money.
Speaking to ANC’s Headstart, Del Rosario said personal and institutional efforts to help Veloso continue after President Aquino asked the Indonesian government that the Filipina convict be pardoned.
Veloso is still on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking following a temporary reprieve in April 2015.
“We were able to get a stay of execution, the president was obsessed with that and we were able to get that on the morning of the execution,” Del Rosario said.
Del Rosario said that even before the temporary reprieve was granted, they were “burning the lines with the foreign minister as the President had instructed.”
He said President Aquino himself talked to the Indonesian foreign minister in addition to many letters and conversations with President Joko Widodo about Veloso’s case.
Del Rosario also went to Indonesia to personally see Veloso and meet with her spiritual adviser and lawyer. He said that the meeting was not released to the media.
“Many things we do, we do not talk about. It’s our job,” he said.
During that meeting, he said Veloso asked him what would become of her two children.
“She was in tears to say who will take care of my children and if I could take care of them, at least in terms of education, so we put up an education fund for her children. Not the DFA. I have,” he said.
“The DFA is overseeing the education fund,” he said.
He added that the fund would cover the tuition for Veloso’s children at least through grade school.
The Filipina was apprehended at Yogyakarta airport in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin sewn into her suitcase.
She maintained her innocence saying she was unaware that illegal drugs were placed in her bag.
On Thursday, Veloso’s recruiters–Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao—refused to enter a plea during their arraignment in a court in Nueva Ecija. The two are being tried for syndicated human trafficking charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“We are in regular contact with the DOJ and the Attorney General. There are hearings that are taking place on the trafficker, Ms. Sergio, and the Attorney General is sending a team from Indonesia to be witness to these hearings,” Del Rosario said.
But, Del Rosario said, “We’re trying our very best to keep her from being executed.”
The Palace announced Del Rosario’s resignation on Monday. “President Benigno Aquino accepted del Rosario’s resignation, effective March 7, 2016,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.
Del Rosario, the richest member of the Cabinet, told ABS-CBN News he resigned because of health reasons.