Pacquiao seeks mercy for Filipino on death row in Indonesia

Reports said Pacquiao, who heads the House committee on migrant workers, had an emotional meeting with Veloso, who was sentenced to death in Indonesia after being arrested in 2009 with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin sewn into the lining of her suitcase.

The Attorney General’s Office, however, chose to delay Veloso’s execution after she was named a witness in a human trafficking case being investigated by Filipino authorities. Meanwhile, eight other convicted drug traffickers, including an Indonesian national, were executed on that morning.

On Thursday, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B.

Later that day, Ambassador Isleta also met with Yogyakarta Mayor Haryadi Suyuti in a 30-minute closed-door gathering at the municipal administration’s headquarters.

Manny Pacquiao, President Jokowi and Mary Jane Veloso.

Pacquiao, along with wife Jinkee, flew to Jakarta last Tuesday night on a business trip but made it a point to visit Veloso after news of Veloso’s possible execution being rescheduled this July 17.

After Veloso was given a reprieve, the Indonesian government stressed the decision was only a “postponement” to allow time for police investigations. “I will visit her on Friday”, he told reporters in the central Java city of Semarang, not far from the prison where Veloso is being held, adding he would see how he could help her, AFP writes.

Veloso reportedly cried during Pacquiao’s visit and also gave the People’s Champ a handcrafted gift that he immediately wore.

On Thursday, Pacquiao visited Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta to take some additional footage for the TV commercial along with Indonesia’s ex- world boxing champion Chris John.