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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider BuCor assures safety of Mary Jane Veloso

BuCor assures safety of Mary Jane Veloso

Published Nov 25, 2024 05:03 am

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) assured on Monday, Nov. 25, the safety of Mary Jane Veloso in its prison facility once she arrives in the Philippines to continue serving her sentence imposed by a court in Indonesia.

“We will guarantee her safety and security,” declared BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. 

Catapang issued the assurance in response to concerns aired by Veloso's family over her safety once she returns to the Phlippines. Her family pointed out "threats" from international drug syndicates.

Veloso was sentenced to death by an Indonesian court following her arrest in 2010 at the Yogyakarta Airport in Indonesia where she was caught attempting to bring in 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

Recently, the Indonesian government agreed to return her to the Philippines where she will serve her remaining prison sentence.

Once Veloso returns to the Philippines, Catapang said she will initially be brought to the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City where she will be staying for a month or less.

“Ang CIW panay babae lang doon. Wala mga drug lords. Yung drug lords nasa Mindoro (Only women are imprisoned at the CIW. There are no drug lords there. Many of the drug lords are detained at the super maximum prison facility in Occidental Mindoro),’ he said.

While at the RDC, Catapang explained that Veloso "will be assessed kung ano bang katayuan niya, may medical problem ba siya (what her status is, her medical problems), or whatever.”

After staying at the RDC, he said Veloso can choose where she wants to be detained, including the CIW, to undergo rehabilitation and reformation.

"We wilo just be simply applying the sentence ng Indonesian government. Continuing ‘yung kanyang pag-serve ng sentence (The serving of her sentence will continue),’ he also said. 

Meanwhile, Catapang said that the CIW is also prepared to detain lawyer Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, once there is an order for her transfer.

At the moment, Lopez is currently staying at the Veterans Memorial Center (VMMC) in Quezon City after being placed under detention by the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability which has been looking into the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“Of course, kung matutuloy yan, may sarili rin siyang kwarto (if it pushes through, she will get her own room),” assured Catapang.

He said that Lopez won’t be allowed to mingle with the other inmates and will have a room that is large, comfortable and with airconditioning installed.

He added that Lopez will be safe in the facility and her medical needs will also be given to her.

Related Tags

Bureau of Corrections Mary Jane Veloso Zuleika Lopez
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