JAKARTA (UPDATE) - The Philippines has formally requested Indonesia to grant Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso an executive clemency, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo communicated the request to his Indonesian counterpart on Sept. 4, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a video statement.

The discussion between Manalo and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi regarding Veloso's case happened on the sidelines of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit in Indonesia, Cruz-Angeles said.

"Ayon kay Minister Marsudi, ihahain nila at isasangguni sa kanilang Ministry of Justice," she added.

Cruz-Angeles had said Monday that Veloso’s case was tackled during a meeting by the two foreign ministers. She said then that the DFA is not be in charge of “any decision making” when it comes to Veloso’s case.

She also said she was yet to find out if Marcos raised the issue during his closed-door meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo that day.

• DFA ‘continues to look for solutions’ to help death row convict Veloso: Palace

"Our DFA continues to look for solutions," she said then.

Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta in April 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin sewn into the lining of her luggage.

The Nueva Ecija native pleaded her innocence, telling the court that the luggage she used was given to her by her recruiters Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao.

Despite not being given a translator who could explain what was happening in court in a language she could understand, Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking and was sentenced to death in 2015.

Shortly before her scheduled execution via a firing squad, Sergio and Lacanilao surrendered to Philippine authorities, allowing the government to convince Indonesia to postpone Veloso’s capital sentence.

Manila's embassy in Jakarta continues to provide consular services to Veloso, Cruz-Angeles said.

"Ayon sa kanila ay nasa mabuting kalagayan siya sa Wonosari Women's Penitentiary in Yogyakarta. Ikinuha din siya ng abogado nang ayon sa batas ng Indonesia nang tuluyang maprotektahan si Ms. Veloso," she said.

Days before Marcos’ scheduled departure to Indonesia on Sunday, Veloso’s parents went to the Department of Migrant Workers to hand a letter of appeal for the chief executive.

“Mas lubos po kaming magpapasalamat kung sa lalong madaling panahon ay maiuuwi sa Pilipinas ang aming anak na si Mary Jane dahil wala po siyang kasalanan,” the letter read.

“Ang pangingibang bayan para lamang mabigyan ng desenteng buhay ang kaniyang mga anak ang tangi niyang pakay,” it added.

Veloso has been in jail in Indonesia for 12 years.

RELATED VIDEO

Watch more News on iWantTFC