Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who spent nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia, described her repatriation as a “miracle” after arriving in Manila Wednesday morning.

Before boarding the plane in Jakarta, Veloso, visibly emotional, said through tears, “This is a new life for me, and I will have a new beginning in the Philippines.”

The 39-year-old mother of two added that she was looking forward to spending Christmas with her children, whom she had not seen in years. “I have to go home because I have a family there, I have my children waiting for me.”

Hours after a brief press conference preceding her departure, Veloso, accompanied by corrections officials, set foot on Philippine soil.

Veloso was not presented to the media but was whisked to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, where she had an emotional reunion with her family.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Veloso’s safety and well-being following her arrival.

“Ms. Veloso’s safety and welfare are paramount, and our agencies in the justice and law enforcement sectors will continue to safeguard her, just as our Indonesian counterparts have done for so long,” he said in a statement.

Veloso, whose arrest in 2010 led to a death sentence for drug trafficking, was repatriated following a long-awaited agreement that removed the threat of execution.

The repatriation agreement allows the Philippines to manage Veloso’s case, including the possibility of granting her clemency. The Indonesian government has said it would respect Manila’s decision in the matter.

Marcos expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government.

“We take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the Indonesian government and to all who extended assistance for the welfare of Ms. Mary Jane Veloso,” he said.

Clemency would take time

At the CIW, Veloso had adobo for breakfast as Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres held a press conference. He addressed the question of clemency, stating that it would be resolved in due time.

“Our President is the one who should be asked about the next possible steps. Right now, we need to meet with him because we don’t want to pre-empt anything the Indonesian government might do,” said Andres.

He emphasized that since Veloso had just arrived, it was only appropriate to give the President time to exercise his right to grant an executive clemency or a pardon.

Veloso had earlier appealed for clemency, which was supported by her mother Celia who urged the President to grant her a pardon so she could spend Christmas at home.

“I hope the President will grant me clemency,” Veloso told reporters at the CIW, where she was reunited with her parents.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) said that if a clemency was not granted, Veloso could still benefit from the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law for an early release.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez explained that while Veloso was convicted in Indonesia, her transfer to the Philippines meant she was now under the jurisdiction of Philippine law and entitled to the same privileges as other persons deprived of liberty, including an early release through the GCTA.

Vasquez noted that Veloso’s case was among many other deserving cases.

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that around 30 elderly and sickly prisoners were seeking clemency.

Vasquez pointed out the progress in Veloso’s case: her death sentence was commuted, she was brought home, and she will now be entitled to the rights and privileges of a prisoner in the Philippines.

Not in handcuffs

Veloso was not handcuffed or in any form of restraint, in accordance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, as adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.

Catapang, who headed Oplan Sundo-nesia that fetched Veloso, noted that under these rules, any instruments of restraint must only be applied for the shortest time necessary.

Additionally, Catapang referenced the Bangkok Rules, also known as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2010. The 70 rules aim to uphold the dignity of incarcerated women and ensure that their rights are protected.

“She has no intention of escaping or harming herself because she really wants to go home to the Philippines, so why would we need handcuffs? Instead of handcuffs, we should give her roses,” Catapang said in Filipino.

End of harrowing chapter

Her journey home marked the end of a harrowing chapter for Veloso, whose case gained international attention after she was spared from execution in 2015. She was given a last-minute reprieve after key developments, including the arrest of the woman who recruited her.

Veloso was made a prosecution witness in the human trafficking case against the woman, which led to a delay in her execution by firing squad.

At the Jakarta press conference, Veloso reflected on her years in prison in Indonesia, expressing mixed emotions about leaving the country where she had spent so much time.

“I am very happy today, but to be honest I am a little sad because Indonesia has been my second family,” she said before singing the Indonesian national anthem.

She thanked the leaders of both Indonesia and the Philippines for their roles in securing her release and made a heartfelt gesture by forming a heart with her hands and shouting, “I love Indonesia.”

Veloso was arrested after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in the suitcase she was carrying into Indonesia in 2010. The suitcase had been given to her by an African man whom her recruiter, Maria Kristina Sergio, knew. Veloso has vehemently insisted she was unaware of the drugs in the baggage.

The case sparked outrage in the Philippines, and her execution was repeatedly delayed over the years, initially after then President Benigno Aquino III had appealed to then Indonesian President Joko Widodo.