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IN PHOTO: World Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao look-alike Johnny Dagami, popularly known as "Manny Paksiw" in the Philippines, poses before photographers at his neighbourhood in Las Pinas, Metro Manila April 24, 2015. With Pacquiao's biggest match coming in a few days, Dagami said he was also preparing for a big performance at a luxury hotel in Manila where he will be singing and rooting for the Filipino boxer. The fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas between Mayweather and Pacquiao is expected to be the highest grossing bout in history. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

Manny Pacquiao requested Indonedia’s President Joko Widodo to spare the life the May Jane Veloso. The Filipino champion boxer “begged” for his fellow citizen’s life only hours before she was scheduled to be executed.

Pacquiao’s request comes as he is preparing for his big match against Floyd Mayweather on Saturday. “His Excellency, President Joko Widodo, I am Manny Pacquiao. On behalf of my countrman, 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,” Pacquiao wrote.

Pacquiao mentioned about his “fight of the century” against Mayweather. He wrote that it would be a great morale booster for him before the Las Vegas encounter if he could save a life. He dedicated the fight to his country and the people of Asia. He reminded that both Indonesia and the Philippines belonged to the same continent, Asia.

Pacquiao read out his message to the Indonesian president during a live television interview on Monday. Filipina single mother Mary Jane is scheduled to be executed on Apr. 29. Pacquiao is a Christian and follows his religion quite earnestly. He asked his countrymen to pray for Mary Jane.

Images earlier appeared on the internet that showed that Indonesia had finished engraving the dates of execution on the cross for individual convicts. One of the images shows Mary Jane’s name with “RIP” and April 29 engraved on a cross. The man, who is seen writing the names and other details on the cross in white, is also seen checking multiple white-coloured coffins.

The 30-year-old single mother from the Philippines was sentenced to death by Indonesian officials after she had been arrested with 2.6 kg of heroin in 2010. Indonesia has extremely strict laws against drug related crimes.

Australian convicts Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran have also been among the drug convicts counting minutes before their execution. The Australian government has been campaigning hard against the scheduled execution. However, Widodo refused to grant clemency for anyone convicted with drug related offences.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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