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Bulatlat.com has published a transcript of the handwritten account of drug convict Mary Jane Veloso that was provided by the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), a group of lawyers who are providing assistance in Veloso’s case. In the document, the 30-year-old explains how she got duped into carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin in 2010.
Coconuts Manila is reposting both edited and unedited versions below.
EDITED:
“I had worked in Dubai as a domestic helper. My contract was for two years, but I ended up working only for 10 months because I was nearly raped. I decided to go back to the Philippines on Dec 31, 2009. Back in my country, the money I had was not enough because my son was already going to school. I needed to work again.
“I went back to Manila several times to apply in an agency as a domestic helper to be sent to other countries. But after almost three months, the agency still didn’t contact me. One day, Christine asked me about work. Christine is our neighbor. My family knows her. We know that she goes to Malaysia almost every week to buy shampoo, lotions, perfume, and other things. All the people in our village know that she had a buy-and-sell business.
“When Christine asked if I wanted work as a domestic helper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I told her that I wanted to. The problem was I had no money to buy a plane ticket to go there. Christine told me not to worry because she could help me. She said when I started working that I’d just have to pay her back with my salary for the first two months.
“For me, this was a a blessing. I accepted Christine’s offer and thanked her.
“On April 21, 2010, I remember it was a Wednesday, Christine and I went to Malaysia. I brought only two pairs of jeans, two shirts, and underwear. I placed them inside my backpack. When Christine and I got to Malaysia, we stayed in Sun Lagoon Hotel near the Pyramid Mall. During our three-day stay, we would always eat out and shop for my personal needs. At some point, I already had so many things that they no longer fit in my bag. I told Christine my things won’t fit in my bag anymore. She told me not worry because her boyfriend would buy me a new bag.
“On Saturday evening [Apr 24, 2010], Christine’s boyfriend called and told us to meet them in a parking lot. I saw their white car. We approached them. Christine’s boyfriend’s name is Prince. There were other men whom I don’t know. One was dark-skinned and tall, one was fat and had curly hair. There was another man who was not fat. One of the men said that they were informed that I needed a bag. So, they bought one for me. I thanked them.
“We returned to the hotel. Christine carried the bag. When we were inside the room, I asked Christine why the bag was heavy. She said it was because it is brand new. I checked all the zippered compartments and pockets of the bag. They were all empty and did not think that something was wrong with it.
“I put all my things in the bag. After packing, Christine handed me a brown envelope that contained US$500 and an Air Asia ticket. She told me to fly to Indonesia for seven days for the holidays and meet some of her friends there. She said I will start my work as soon as I returned to Kuala Lumpur.
“I did not have a choice. The only thing in my mind then was that I needed to go to Indonesia like she asked. It was important for me to come back, so I could start my work in Kuala Lumpur because I was doing it for my children.
“I rode a taxi to the airport at around 3:00am on Apr 25, 2010, Sunday. My flight was at 7:00am.
“Christine gave me her friends’ contact number. She said that I could contact them when I reach my hotel.
“I landed at the airport in Indonesia at around 8:30am. But when my bag was put through the scanner, the Indonesian officials asked me to do it again. The bag went through the scanner around two to three times.
“I was then brought to an office where they asked again if they can check my bag. He checked it but did not see anything. Then the man asked if he can cut open my bag and I agreed because I know that there was nothing wrong with it as I have checked it.
“After they slashed my bag open, they saw a black plastic bag with something inside it wrapped in aluminum foil. I asked what the problem was, but then I was brought to another office. There, they opened the aluminum foil and found that it contained powder that was light brown in color. The men checked the powder, which then turned into solid. The man asked me if I know what it was and I answered that I don’t know.
“The men then started laughing. They told me that it was heroin. They said it was some kind of illegal drug. My body felt so cold. I could not speak. I just cried and cried. I knew my life was finished. Drugs is number one among the illegal things. I hate myself for believing in Christine and never thinking anything negative about her. Now, I’m here. But I do not know anything.”
MARY JANE VELOSO’S ORIGINAL ACCOUNT:
“I’m work to Dubai United Arab Emirates. I’m there as a servant and my contract is two years. But I’m there for 10 months because have someone want to rape me, I decided to come back to Philippines on December 31, 2009, I’m comeback to my country but my money was not enough because my son already go to school… I need to work again…
“How many times I go to the Manila in Agency I try to apply again as a servant take to the another country but almost 3 months the agency did not contact me. One day Christine asked me about work!!! Christine is my neighbor in the Philippines and my family know she’s good and every week she go to Malaysia and if she comeback to the Philippines…she bring a thinks like shampoo, lotions, perfume and etc… All people in my village know that… Christine job is buy and sell like this…
“When she ask me about work… if I want work in Malaysia/Kuala Lumpur as servant take… my answer I want… but I said I don’t have money to buy a ticket!!! She said to me… don’t worried about that because I can help you… But if you already start to your work… pay me… your 2 months salary!!!
“For me this is a blessing so I accept, and I said Thank you!!!
“April 21, 2010 Wednesday… Christine and I go to Malaysia to go there… I bring 2 jeans and 2 shirt and underware I put in a bagpack!!! I and Christine stay in Kuala Lumpur in Sun Inn Lagoon Hotel near of Pyramid Mall… In a 3 days stay there… I and Christine always go outside… eat together and buy a dress and a personal needs… so I said… I don’t have bag… I keep things where? She said… don’t worried I tell my boyfriend he buy a bag for you…
“Then Saturday evening her boyfriend call and he said his brother there in pariking lot I see a white car… I and Christine go outside the car… I meet brother of Christne’s boyfriend… Christine boyfriend name Prince!!! And the one men I don’t know what his name… I and the one men same color… black but tall… fat and his hair cur but the one man not fat…. Then l.k ask me… you are Mary Jane my brother said you need a bag so I buy for you and I said thank you!!! I and Christine comeback to the hotel and Christine bring the bag… When we were inside the room I hold the bag but I ask Christine why the bag little heavy but she said because its new… I check all zipper and pocket of the bag… all empty so I don’t have thinking negative…
“I put all my things inside the bag…. When I’m finish packing… Christine give ne a brown envelope and inside envelopt have 500 US dollar and ticket… Air Asia Airplane… She said to me Im go to Indonesia in 7 days for Holiday In and meet a friends and if im comeback to Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Im start to my work.
“So I don’t have any choice that I must go there and that time only in my mine… If im finish go to Indonesia im start to my work, because work is important to me, because of my child…
“April 25, 2010 Sunday 3:00 a.m. in the morning I go to the airport with Taxi… 7:00 a.m. in the morning is my flight!!! Christine give a no. of her friends in Indonesia she said if im there… im go to the hotel… any hotel then if im already there in hotel I contact her friends, 8:30 am I already in Indonesia Airport but when my bag put in X-Ray machine… the men said to me he wants my bag put in X-Ray Machine again… in 2 or 3 times… I and Indonesian men go to the office, he said he wants to check my bag again… I said ok you check my bag but he didn’t see anything… then the men said can I cut your bag…? I said why you cut my bag… only he said nothing… only I want to check your bag… so I answer again… Ok you can cut my bag… because I believe don’t have anything inside my bag because I ready check my bag!!! But when bag cut… the men see something inside the back of my bag… a black plastic and inside the black plastic have aluminum foil. When I see the aluminum foil I ask the men what’s the problem? And he said to me nothing. Then he said to me we go to another office/another place… Until that time I’m not thinking negative but when I’m there inside the another office. The Aluminum foil open and inside the aluminum foil have a powder the color is a lightbrown… the men check the powder… then the powder change to become solid. The men said… you know this? I answer I don’t know what that???
“All laughing he said this kind of drugs a heroin. Oh my God!!! My body feel so cold… I can’t speak any thing… only I do that time… cry and cry!!! Because I know my life finish. Because drugs is no. 1 illegal… I hate myself why I believe with Christine… Why I don’t have negative thinking about her… and now I’m here… But I don’t know anything.”
Photo: News clip
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