MARY JANE VELOSO TO RETURN HOME AFTER OVER A DECADE IN INDONESIA

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that convicted overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso will soon return to the Philippines after more than a decade of diplomatic efforts and consultations with the Indonesian government.

"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 shared on his social media page on Wednesday, November 20.

Marcos expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government, highlighting the strengthened partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia. He emphasized their shared commitment to justice and compassion.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill. This outcome is a reflection of the depth of our nation's partnership with Indonesia—united in a shared commitment to justice and compassion," Marcos stated. "Thank you, Indonesia. We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane home," he added.

During the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia in May 2023, Marcos reiterated the Philippine government's consistent appeals for Veloso's pardon, commutation of sentence, and extradition so she could serve her sentence in the Philippines.

Veloso has been detained in Indonesia since 2010 after being arrested on drug trafficking charges. She was apprehended in Yogyakarta carrying over 2.6 kilograms of heroin in a suitcase and was subsequently sentenced to death.

"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," Marcos noted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally requested clemency for Veloso on September 6, 2022.