In the spirit of the holiday, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) allowed Mary Jane Veloso’s family to visit her on Christmas Day.

The BuCor said the family could bring food, but taking photos and videos in the reception area of the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong was prohibited. The bureau reminded the family that Veloso remained a person deprived of liberty (PDL).

To recall, Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia and was only recently transferred to Philippine custody.

Veloso celebrated Christmas with her family for the first time on Wednesday after more than a decade of detention in Indonesia.

“Yes, they visited, but she requested no media coverage,” said a BuCor public information officer, who asked to remain anonymous. Reports indicated that over 20 relatives visited Veloso, including her two children, who had traveled from Nueva Ecija.

“We thought we would die as a couple without ever seeing Mary Jane again. We thought we would never be with her. But look, they granted our request. It’s a miracle from God,” Celia, Veloso’s mother, said in Filipino.

The family again appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a pardon for Mary Jane. They said she had suffered enough. “This can be your gift to us so that we can finally be together with her,” they told the President.

Earlier, Marcos said granting Veloso clemency was still “far off.” He said he would rely on the judgment of the government’s legal experts regarding clemency.

Veloso’s lawyer had argued there were no more obstacles to the grant of clemency.

“I carefully read the statement from the coordinating ministries. It says the responsibility for rehabilitation, remission, or clemency now lies with the Philippine government, and they will respect that,” said Edre Olalia, Veloso’s counsel, last week.

Indonesia had affirmed that it will respect any decision made by the Philippines, including granting clemency to Veloso.

Families of PDLs were allowed by the BuCor to visit in all the correction facilities to foster family solidarity and promote the morale and welfare of PDLs.

Regular visits start at 8 a.m. till 3 p.m. while BuCoR authorizes stay-in privileges for wives and common-law wives during this holiday season.