Mary Jane Veloso Update: Mom hits Philippine government on daughter's case, earns ire of Filipinos; Government gave all-out support?

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Mary Jane Veloso, a Flipina sentenced to the firing squad last Tuesday after being found guilty of illegal possession of drugs in 2010, was spared at the last minute due to the efforts of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III in convincing his Indonesian counterpart, President Joko Widodo, of Veloso's possible role in leading authorities to certain drug groups.

Now, Veloso's execution was put on hold by President Widodo pending Philippine investigation into human and drug trafficking allegations laid out against the former's recruiter who was captured by authorities two weeks ago.

"There was a request from the Philippine president regarding the perpetrator who's suspected of committing human trafficking and surrendered in the Philippines. MJ is needed for her testimony," said Tony Spontana, spokesman for Indonesia's Attorney-General.

However, Veloso's mother, Celia, slammed the Philippine government's alleged lack of support in Veloso's case. Instead of thanking Philippine President Aquino, she accused him of inaction and the government of indifference to Veloso's plight.

"Until now, we are still being fooled. We thought he was trying to find a way to save my daughter," Celia said in Tagalog to local reporters as well as the Agence France Press in a press conference Friday.

"Now that we are back in the Philippines, we have much to get from the government. They say it was because of them that my daughter is still alive. That's not true," she added.

She also thanked all the other people who she says helped them, like the left-wing group Migrante, and the Filipinos who prayed for Mary Jane Veloso.

Furthermore, she accused the Philippine embassy in Indonesia of hiding them from local and international media as they waited for her daughter's execution, which was scheduled Tuesday midnight.

"We did what we could. We were not involved in the creation of the problem. You must remember she was arrested, if I am not mistaken, April of 2010," President Aquino said in response to Celia Veloso's statements.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a formal response to Celia Veloso's statements.

"We have already gone on record on this. The Department of Foreign Affairs had consistently been updates the public of the Philippine government's efforts," DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said.

He added that the government provided legal assistance for Mary Jane Veloso, and covered the cost of travel for Veloso's kin to Indonesia.

Manila has also been "undertaking representations at the highest levels of the Indonesian government" and "coordinating prison visits of Mary Jane's family."

"Moreover, we are committed to pursuing the complaints filed against Mary Jane's recruiter as this was vital in securing the reprieve of Mary Jane. We believe that focusing on this most important objective will help Mary Jane more at this time," Jose added.

Presidential spokesman Abigail Valte released a similar statement to the AFP as well.

Celia's recent statements of seeming indignation did not sit well with the Filipinos, and have taken to social media to express their discontent while calling Mary Jane Veloso's mother an ingrate.

For the time being, Mary Jane Veloso remains in Indonesian custody pending further discussion between the Indonesian and Philippine governments.

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