The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) yesterday asked the faithful to storm the heavens with prayers in a bid to save Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia.
“At this time, it is important for all of us to be one in prayer to save Jane’s life,” Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, ECMI chairman, said in an interview.
“We storm heavens with prayers that she be saved from this tragic fate,” he added.
The ECMI official said they are also praying for the government officials who are working hard to get a reprieve for Veloso.
“We in the migrants ministry and apostolate feel deep concern and sadness over the unfortunate situation of our compatriot Mary Jane Veloso now facing the punishment of death in an Indonesian jail,” said Santos.
“We pray for our government officials who are working hard to get her reprieve and to spare her from this worst punishment,” he added.
The Balanga prelate said they join the appeal to Indonesian authorities to spare her the death penalty because every life is precious as it comes from God.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will again ask President Aquino to air another appeal to his Indonesian counterpart to grant clemency to the Filipino scheduled to be executed in Nusakambangan Island in Central Java for illegal drug trafficking.
“Yes, we will ask again,” said DFA spokesman Charles Jose in a press briefing yesterday. “We will endorse Malacañang to again appeal the case of Veloso directly to the Indonesian president.”
According to Jose, President Aquino has written a request for clemency to former President Yudhoyono, but it was incumbent President Joko Widodo who rejected the clemency.
Earlier, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) also called on the public to unite in praying and calling on the Indonesian government to heed the appeal by the United Nations and various governments for clemency for Veloso.
Manila Bulletin
