PETALING JAYA, April 30 — Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, who was spared from execution at the 11th hour yesterday, was reportedly given a bag containing 2.6kg of heroin at a mall here in 2010.
Veloso was given the reprieve after a woman identified as Maria Kristina Sergio, who allegedly recruited and duped her into carrying the bag through Yogyakarta’s airport, surrendered herself to Filipino police. Sergio, 47, is the daughter of one of Veloso’s godparents.
Veloso’s mother and sister had told the foreign press Sergio offered Veloso a job as a maid in Malaysia, with a monthly salary of RM1,600, a motorcycle and a mobile phone.
Veloso and Sergio left for Malaysia on April 22, 2010 but when they arrived, Sergio reportedly told Veloso the job was no longer available.
She assured her, however, that there was another vacancy in Yogyakarta.
The two stayed in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur for three days.
Before they left, Sergio took Veloso to a mall here where she introduced her to two men — an African called “Ike” and another “fair-skinned” man believed to be her live-in partner Julius Lacanilao.
The men bought Veloso expensive clothes and a new bag. They also gave her US$500 (RM1,780).
When Veloso asked Sergio why the bag was heavy, she was told it was because the bag was new.
The women flew to Yogyakarta on April 25, 2010,
At the airport there, Veloso’s luggage set off an alarm. A search uncovered the drugs wrapped in aluminium foil and sewn into the lining of her luggage.
As Veloso was arrested, Sergio slipped away.
The Philippine Department of Justice is investigating complaints of illegal recruitment and human trafficking against Sergio.
