MANILA, Philippines – Convicted overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso will soon return to the country after more than a decade of Philippine diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday.
“After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her execution long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” President Marcos said on his social media page.
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| Mary Jane Veloso set to return to the Philippines after over a decade on Indonesia’s death row |
President Marcos expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill.
He said this reflects the strengthened partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia.
The President also noted the two nations’ shared commitment to justice and compassion.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill. This outcome is a reflection of the depth [of] our nation’s partnership with Indonesia—united in a shared commitment to justice and compassion,” President Marcos said.
“Thank you, Indonesia. We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane home,” he added.
During the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia in May 2023, President Marcos emphasized the Philippine government had consistently appealed to Indonesia for Veloso’s pardon, commutation of sentence, and extradition so she could serve her sentence in the Philippines.
Veloso has been detained in Indonesia since 2010 after being arrested on drug trafficking charges.
“Mary Jane’s story resonates with many: a mother trapped by the grip of poverty, who made one desperate choice that altered the course of her life. While she was held accountable under Indonesian law, she remains a victim of her circumstances,” President Marcos said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally requested clemency for Veloso on September 6, 2022. She was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after she was found carrying a suitcase containing over 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in the same year.
— Sally, The Summit Express
