Veloso clemency being looked into by legal eagles — BBM

The authorities are studying the next steps in Mary Jane Veloso’s case following her return to the country, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said yesterday.

“We leave it to the judgment of our legal experts to determine whether the vision of clemency is appropriate,” Marcos said.

Just in time for Christmas, Veloso arrived on the morning of 18 December to end almost a decade and a half of uncertainty and reunite with her family on Philippine soil.

While details of the agreement between Manila and Jakarta were not disclosed, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said Indonesia has not imposed conditions regarding Veloso’s transfer to the Philippines, including the possibility of granting her clemency under Philippine laws.

This has prompted calls for the President to consider clemency for Veloso. On Thursday, Marcos acknowledged the public clamor, including from Veloso’s family, for her freedom.

“It’s really up to us. But we’re still at the very preliminary stage of her return,” Marcos said.

After nearly 15 years, Mary Jane Veloso was reunited with her parents, Cesar and Celia, and her two sons, Mark Daniel and Mark Darren. Her sisters and other relatives also welcomed her home with flowers.

Veloso was brought to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, where she will stay for 60 days.

On 25 April 2010, the then 25-year-old Mary Jane traveled to Indonesia to seek employment. Upon her arrival, she was apprehended by customs officials at the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Unaware

Indonesian authorities discovered 2.6 kilograms of heroin concealed in her baggage. Veloso claimed she was unaware of the drugs in her belongings. A month later, she informed her family that she was in jail in Indonesia.

In August 2010, Veloso’s family sought assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and informed them of her case. By October, the case against Veloso had moved forward. She was represented by a court-appointed lawyer.

On 11 October 2010, the District Court of Justice of Sleman in Yogyakarta sentenced Veloso to the death penalty. In 2011, the Philippine government began efforts to save her.

Then President Benigno Aquino III asked then Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for clemency for Veloso. The Indonesian leader imposed a moratorium on executions during his presidency.

From 2012 to 2014, Veloso was safe from execution. In 2014, then Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected all requests for clemency for individuals on death row.

Aquino met with Widodo during his visit to the Philippines in 2015 and appealed Veloso’s case. On 24 April of that year, Veloso was transferred to Nusakambangan Island to be executed by firing squad.

At the time, President Aquino was attending the Asean Conference in Malaysia. He had a side meeting with Widodo, who was also at the conference, and he appealed to him to spare Mary Jane from execution.

Aquino also “broke protocol” by speaking directly to the Indonesian Foreign Minister to plead for Veloso. He suggested that Mary Jane could help unmask the drug syndicate in the region, as her alleged recruiter, who gave her the suitcase, had surrendered to Philippine law enforcement.

That same night, Indonesian officials announced that Veloso’s execution would proceed along with eight others on death row. Filipinos held vigils for Mary Jane Veloso. The DFA said it had exhausted all means to help Veloso.

Winds of change

On 29 April 2015, the Philippines received a report that Mary Jane’s life was spared so the Philippines could proceed with the case it was preparing to uncover the illegal recruitment that had brought Veloso to the death penalty.

During the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Veloso’s case was not discussed as it was deemed “not urgent,” according to the DFA.

In 2020, Mary Jane’s alleged recruiters, Maria Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao, were sentenced to life imprisonment for large-scale illegal recruitment.

In October 2024, Indonesia elected a new leader, Prabowo Subianto. The new president implemented a policy of returning foreign detainees to their home countries, including those on death row.

According to the DFA, Subianto sought a “clean and fresh start” in relations with other countries.

President Marcos later announced that the Indonesian government had expressed its intent to transfer Veloso to the Philippines, acknowledging the diplomatic efforts made by previous administrations.