Press Release
September 13, 2016

GOV'T MUST FIND WAYS TO PROTECT PINOYS ABROAD WHILE WAGING ITS OWN WAR ON DRUGS--CHIZ

The hands-off stance taken by President Rodrigo Duterte surrounding the case of Mary Jane Veloso is only natural and logical given the hardline policy of his administration against illegal drugs, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.

In an interview with Senate reporters, Escudero said the President was put in a difficult situation to weigh in between appealing for clemency for Veloso, who is currently on Indonesia's death row for drug trafficking, during his meeting with Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo in Jakarta last week.

"I totally disagree that Mary Jane should be put on death row. In fact, we should do everything we can to stop it, delay it. Remember the Flor Contemplacion case? We unrelentingly appealed for her case. But we are in a unique position now because the administration is batting for death penalty for drugs," the senator said.

Although Escudero is against the reimposition of capital punishment in the country, the senator said the Chief Executive could have not done any better given his stand on illegal drugs.

"Sana liwanagin nila, dahil ang tingin ko nalagay lamang sa alanganin si Pangulong Duterte na hilingin ang pag-pardon kay Mary Jane dahil siya mismo naniniwala sa pagbabalik ng parusang kamatayan dito sa ating bansa."

"Yung sinasabi ni Presidente na 'implement your law, follow your own law' kay President Widodo, that's the very same thing na gusto niyang gawin dito. How can he ask other countries to do otherwise then?" Escudero pointed out.

Escudero said the repercussions of Veloso's case on many other Filipinos convicted for drugs in different countries should be carefully studied in view of the new administration's thrust in combatting illegal drugs.

In some cases, Filipinos are convicted abroad due to the absence or lack of legal representation or assistance from the government, he said.

"There will be consequences and these have to be carefully studied. Maybe we need to revisit our foreign policies in the way that we can assist and extend more help to many Filipinos languishing in jails in different parts of the world.

Whether rightfully or wrongly accused and convicted, we should exhaust all available remedies and steps. It is the government's duty to look after the welfare of its citizens," Escudero added.

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