MARY JANE VELOSO RETURNING TO PHILIPPINES AFTER 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN INDONESIA

The Philippine government announced that Mary Jane Veloso will be sent back to the country from Indonesia to serve her sentence (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News)

Filipina domestic worker Mary Jane Veloso who’s on death row for drug trafficking in Indonesia, may come home to the Philippines by Christmas after 14 years of incarceration in Indonesia, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Veloso was detained during the time of late president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III in 2010 for carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms of heroin and later sentenced to death. Aquino made a last minute plea to Indonesia from the firing squad in 2015 after a woman suspected of recruiting her surrendered to Philippine authorities.

Under the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, had given them the go-ahead to execute Veloso. However, Duterte denied this, stating that he had asked for clemency and also said he would respect the decision of the Indonesian government, whatever it decided.

Under Marcos' term, the President said that an agreement has been reached with Indonesian authorities to bring Veloso back to the Philippines. According to DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, Veloso will be transferred to the Philippines o serve her sentence in a facility here. 

Indonesia media earlier reported that their government was mulling the possibility of allowing the transfer of foreign prisoners like Veloso to their home country, where they can serve the rest of their sentence.

“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,” Marcos said in a statement. 

“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,” he added.

De Vega said Philippines reached out to Indonesia several months ago about Veloso’s case as a new start of their relations with the new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. 

“Although it has not been finalized yet, let's pray that it will be completed by Christmas and Mary Jane will be able to return to the Philippines...We pray that it will be totally a success and that it will not be delayed. I am not promising anything but hopefully she’s back in the Philippines by Christmas,” De Vega stated.

Source: Philippine News Agency   

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