The presidential spokesperson said Pres. Duterte did not issue a green light to the execution of Mary Jane Veloso.
The Malacañan Palace clarified on Monday, September 12, that President Rodrigo Duterte has not given a ‘go signal’ to Indonesian Pres. Joko Widodo for the execution of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who was intercepted at the airport for carrying of prohibited substances on her luggage.
Pres. Jokowi claimed that Pres. Duterte has permitted the Indonesian government to enlist Veloso on the next line of the death row after the latter explained the Filipina’s case to him.
According to the Jakarta Post, Widodo said that Duterte has given him the freedom to end Veloso’s life.
But Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that Duterte only advised Jokowi to abide by the laws of Indonesia and the Philippines shall not interfere.
“Follow your laws, we will not interfere”, said Duterte to Widodo during their bilateral meeting on his (Duterte’s) first state visit in Indonesia last week.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is still verifying about Widodo’s statements which made news not only in the Philippines but also around the world.