Veloso may get absolute pardon

Mary Jane Veloso could be granted an absolute pardon by the Philippine government more than 16 years after she was arrested in Indonesia after authorities found illegal drugs in her luggage.

The development was disclosed during House plenary deliberations on the proposed P10.15-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for fiscal year 2027 on Wednesday.

“The Office of the President is seriously considering granting absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian grounds, in support of the government’s commitment to protecting Filipino migrant workers,” OP budget sponsor and Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert “Abet” Garcia said.

Garcia was responding to questions from Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago, who noted that Veloso remained detained at a correctional institution for women after being repatriated in 2024.

Elago questioned the government’s lack of action on Veloso’s case, saying it had been recognized locally and internationally as a case of human trafficking and forced drug-mule exploitation.

She said Veloso had been deprived of years with her family and children because of the “injustice” she faced.

“Mary Jane had been separated from her family for nearly a decade, from her parents that are older now, and from her children who were small when she last saw them. She has been robbed of so many years because of the grave inhumanity she experienced,” Elago said.

Asked when a decision on the pardon would be released, Garcia said there would be “an announcement in a few days.”

The President’s power to grant executive clemency is provided under Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution.