MANILA, Philippines -- Boxing's only eight division world champion and Filipino ring icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao reportedly paid a visit to Mary Jane Veloso in Jakarta -- a Filipina woman who was arrested and sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
In a story by Philstar.com, the visit was confirmed by Migrante International.
Although well known around the world as one of boxing's elite talents, Pacquiao is also a politician in his native Philippines. He heads the House committee on migrant workers.
Veloso, 30, was on her way to seek employment in Indonesia as an Overseas Filipino Worker when she was nabbed at the airport after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in a hidden compartment in her suitcase.
After her arrest, Veloso however maintained her innocence, claiming she was unaware of the drugs in her luggage.
She was scheduled to be executed last April 29 but was granted a last minute temporary stay of execution after a woman by the name of Maria Kristina Sergio, who was thought to have masterminded her drug smuggling, confessed to the crime.
Pacquiao, along with wife Jinkee, flew to Jakarta last Tuesday night on a business trip but made it a point to visit Veloso after news of Veloso's possible execution being rescheduled this July 17.
The gesture in itself is thought to be highly significant in efforts to further Veloso's request for clemency.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, initially granted the reprieve of execution because an ongoing criminal investigation of Sergio required Veloso's testimony which is thought to be pivotal to the case.
Two days before Veloso was to be executed, and while Pacquiao was preparing for his May 2 superfight against rival Floyd Mayweather, the Filipino boxing legend took time out and appealed to President Widodo to spare Veloso's life.
"His Excellency, President Joko Widodo, I am Manny Pacquiao. On behalf of my countryman, Mary Jane Veloso, and the entire Filipino people, I am begging and knocking on your kind heart that Your Excellency will grant executive clemency to her by sparing her life and saving her life from execution," said Pacquiao, in a news spot aired by Philippine broadcasting company GMA.
Pacquiao is currently recovering from a right shoulder injury he suffered in the Mayweather bout. He is not expected to be back in the ring until some time in 2016.