Trying to save a life. Photo by Ian Derf Salvaña

Various organizations gathered at Freedom Park at 5:00 p.m. today, April 27, for an internationally-coordinated protest and candle-lighting in support to the campaign to save Mary Jane Veloso from execution.

The said protest was participated by Migrante International, Gabriela Women’s Party, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan , and other organizations under Bayan.

When asked about the protest, Sheena Duazo, Secretary General of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said, “Pagpakita ni sa pagpahiusa natong mga Dabawenyo para ipanawagan ang paghunong sa execution kay Mary Jane Veloso and at the same time, pag-expose na si Mary Jane usa lamang ka victim sa drug-trafficking na common karon nga problem sa atong mga OFWs tungod sa kawala’y pagtagad ug support coming from our government.”

She also criticized the Aquino Administration because, according to her, the administration has done no action to resolve Mary Jane’s case during her five-year imprisonment.

“Para sa amua, hangtod dili mahitabo ang pag-execute, naa gihapo’y pag-asa for Mary Jane,” says Sheena, adding that there is already a growing international support to stop Mary Jane’s execution.

Representative Luz Ilagan from Gabriela Women’s Party spoke during the protest, also expressing her disappointment with President Aquino for not providing substantial help to resolve Mary Jane’s case.

“Either ignorante gyud siya sa kaso, wala siya gitug-anan, o kaya nagpabungol-bungol napud kay ingun-ana man ang kalaki ni PNoy: dili makasabot sa kahimtang sa mga migrante,” Rep. Ilagan said during the rally. The candle-lighting then started at 5:30 p.m.

Mary Jane Veloso, a 30-year-old Overseas Filipino Worker, was sentenced to be executed by firing squad in Indonesia tomorrow, April 28, over a drug-related case. Authorities discovered 2.6 kilograms of heroin sewn into her suitcase at the Yogyakarta Airport in 2010. She insisted that she has no knowledge that there were drugs inside her suitcase.