10 August 2015 - On July 31, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials headed by the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) Executive Director Ambassador Reynaldo Catapang and Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III, led a team of lawyers and NBI investigators on a regular consular prison visit to Mary Jane Veloso at the Wirogunan Penitentiary in Jogjakarta.

The team was accompanied by Consul General Roberto Manalo and Indonesian lawyers Atty. Agus Salim and Atty. Aprillina Purba, who earlier assisted in arranging the visit with Indonesian authorities. Prior to their jail visit, the team met with representatives from the regional office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Jogjakarta, the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office and the Indonesian Foreign Ministry who were also present to monitor the jail visit.

The DFA and DOJ officials were able to personally meet with Mary Jane and explain to her their individual roles in the pursuit of the case against her alleged illegal recruiters, Kristina Sergio, et al. On behalf of the visiting team, Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras reiterated to her the full commitment of the Philippine government to support her case and secure justice for her. END