An Unexpected New Beginning for Mary Jane Veloso

Mary Jane Veloso, who narrowly escaped execution for drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2015, arrived in Manila in the early morning hours after years of negotiations between the two Southeast Asian countries. The 39-year-old former domestic worker and mother of two expressed in Jakarta her willingness to start a new life in the Philippines. Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after 2.6 kg of heroin was discovered in her suitcase. She claims to have unknowingly acted as a drug courier, but was nonetheless convicted and sentenced to death. A few days before her release, the last five members of the so-called ‘Bali Nine’ drug cartel were brought back from Indonesia to Australia. Upon her arrival at the airport in Manila, she was escorted by strict security forces and taken directly to a women’s prison facility. Her family and dozens of supporters waiting for her outside the terminal were not able to greet Veloso. Her father, Cesar Veloso, tearfully expressed his outrage that his daughter had been wronged and the family was not allowed to hug her. Her mother, Celia Veloso, on the other hand, expressed joy at her daughter’s return. Edre Olalia, Veloso’s lawyer in the Philippines, stated that family members were granted private access to Veloso in the detention facility. An agreement between the governments of both countries allows Veloso’s return on the condition that the Philippines respect the Indonesian judgment and acknowledge Veloso’s status as a prisoner. Philippine government officials stated that any decision regarding a pardon would be made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing that it was premature to speculate on potential steps. Indonesia promised to respect any decision made by the Philippine government, including a possible pardon. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo thanked the Indonesian government for its ‘sincere and determined actions,’ which enabled Veloso’s timely return for the Christmas holiday. He described this day as a significant moment for Ms. Veloso’s return to her homeland.