The reprieve or stay of execution of #MaryJaneVeloso issued by Indonesian President JokoWi makes perfect sense. Maraming salamat (many thanks) to everyone who contributed to this effort: Every worker, president, boxer, lawyer, rallyist, organizer, reporter, gambler, world leader, netizen who participated thru a picket, rally, statement, appearance, research, phone call, vigil, tweet — thru every prayer, pleading, poetry, and practice: All gave of themselves.
(as early as 2011, the solution of making a state witness out of those who appear to be notthe most guilty in order to get more evidence to bust the drug ring was proposed here at:
The President hasn’t made an appearance as of noon today and allowed his DFA Secretary issue a statesman’s message of thanks and support.
That’s PNoy for you, he did not epal.
embedded here are three songs, in the widgets: The first is one of PNoy’s favorite songs (hey, a life was saved, let the widgets play 🙂 ) — it’s a simple, breezy folk-rock song. (Based on my research, this is one of his favorite songs). hope i got it right…. it goes like so… (pls click the play arrow, soundcloud embedded below):
(i really don’t know what these lyrics mean, youask him; it seems like… it was written by someone who was driving on a free way, on a bright, windy day, with the car roof down, and he liked how the sun shimmered on the ocean…)
……..
“Cause the free wind is blowin’ through your hair And the days surround your daylight there Seasons crying no despair Alligator lizards in the air
Wishin’ on a falling star Watchin’ for the early train Sorry boy, but I’ve been hit by Purple rain Aw, come on Joe, you can always Change your name Thanks a lot son, just the same
Ventura Highway In the sunshine Where the days are longer The nights are stronger Than moonshine You’re gonna go …. I know -oh-ow-ow-ow
The second is an OPM of the same genre (this song is circa late 1960s or early 1970s Philippines — think Gloria Diaz and Margie Moran when you hear the soft refrain…)
(the third is a song for all of us. (i hope you have time to listen, just minimize your window and surf the net while it plays….
Mr. President, your quick thinking, quiet introspection, scenario-building analysis, and masterful move yesterday, and how you maximized your goodwill with President JokoWi the day before that, is probably one of your finest moments and it was not video-recorded, photographed or documented — you made your parents proud.
Unless JokoWi (Indonesian President Joko Widodo) and the Indonesian government believe that Mary Jane Veloso is a one-woman international drug syndicate, or that she is the queen and ringleader of a global network of drug traffickers, refusing to use her as witness to bust the drug ring that ensnared her does not make any legal, political, moral sense, or resemble any kind of logic. The Indonesian government had been informed by the Philippine government (thru President Aquino) this morning that the recruiter who inveigled Mary Jane Veloso to carry the suitcase with the heroin embedded and hidden in a sewn compartment, was now in custody. The custodial investigation of this illegal recruiter leads to at least four more persons-of-interest in the inner layer of the drug ring. The Philippine government and the Indonesian government can even enter into a bilateral agreement for the sharing of information on evidence on this matter and for prosecutorial cooperation. Yet, the Indon government refuses to pay any kind of attention. Even from the point of view of criminal law and law enforcement procedure, using Mary Jane Veloso as witness would yield more useful and admissible evidence that could lead to the inner layer of the drug conspiracy. Executing her now closes that door forever. Unless that is the intent of the Indon government: To forever seal the door to the possibility of identifying the operators of this drug trafficking syndicate. The senselessness of this strategy on the part of the JokoWi government (killing the unwitting “courier” when she has information on her “recruiters” and when one of her recruiters is now in custody — and forever closing the door that leads to the inner layer of the drug syndicate) puts in doubt the sincerity of the Jokowi administration in dealing with the drug menace.
At 1pm: GMA 7 News reporter Salima Refran quoted Malacañang spokesperson Sonny Coloma’s text on the result of the Aquino-Widodo huddle three hours ago: The Indonesian president in response to President Aquino’s plea to spare the life of Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian consideration said that he would consult with their attorney general, then promised that he and Aquino would speak again later in the day.
ANC (ABS-CBN cable news) reported that Aquino said Widodo was sympathetic to the plight of Mary Jane Veloso. At least, this was the sense that he got.
The good news is that President Aquino was not outrightly rebuffed, and that they would talk again.
The President as PNoy, or Noy, or Noynoy, can be persuasive and charming in one-on-one engagements (the PNoy that Josh and Bimby are fond of hugging) but when he feels kinukuyog (being besieged) or when he is stressed out, he can be abrupt, awkward, even “dismissive” to some. i’m blabbering in this paragraph — i will just continue playing OPM songs in my widgets here to show my in-the-moment support for the President’s efforts.
In the words of Atty. Edre Olalia, “At saka na tayo magtuos…” . This portion was never translated into English by the news media. It translates into:…. hmmm, let me see… how do i put this diplomatically for the President … it translates into: “there will be a proper time for reckoning”.We hope the President convinces Widodo, and the reckoning becomes a time of redeeming. (at the very least, we hope the supposed April 28, 5pm execution is stayed.)
