Indonesia and the Philippines have reached an agreement to repatriate Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row for drug offenses in Indonesia since 2015, back to her home country. The agreement was signed on December 6, 2024. Photo: AFP
A Filipina facing execution in Indonesia could be home before Christmas, following an agreement between Manila and Jakarta to repatriate her, officials announced on Friday. Mary Jane Veloso, a mother of two, was arrested in 2010 after 2.6kg (5.7 pounds) of heroin was found in her suitcase. Her supporters argue that she was deceived by an international drug syndicate. In 2015, she narrowly avoided execution when her suspected recruiter was arrested.
"We agree to return the person concerned to the Philippines," said Indonesia's senior law and human rights minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, after signing a "practical arrangement" for Veloso's repatriation in Jakarta. "Mary Jane Veloso becomes the responsibility of the Philippines," he added, noting that the death penalty might be commuted to life imprisonment. Yusril stated that the transfer could be completed "before Christmas," possibly around December 20.
Veloso's mother expressed her joy and surprise at the news of her daughter's impending return. "We can finally be together this Christmas," said Celia Veloso, 65. "This might be the happiest Christmas we will ever have as a family." Veloso's case has garnered significant attention in the Philippines, with rallies of support and appeals from world boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Her supporters claim she was on her way to work as a maid when she was arrested in Indonesia. She was scheduled to face the firing squad in 2015, but the Philippine government secured a last-minute reprieve after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested and put on trial for human trafficking, with Veloso named as a prosecution witness.
The Philippines' Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez expressed "heartfelt gratitude" over Veloso's repatriation. "We are hopeful that we will be able to do this before Christmas so that it will be a happier Christmas for everyone," he said. The Veloso family has long awaited the chance to reunite with their daughter.
Vasquez noted that Veloso would serve her sentence "as agreed upon, in accordance with Philippine laws." He also stated, "We do understand and we respect the decision of the Indonesian courts with respect to the sentence that was meted on our citizen Mary Jane Veloso." Indonesia enforces some of the world's strictest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. According to data from rights group KontraS, at least 530 people were on death row in the Southeast Asian nation, mostly for drug-related crimes.
As of early November, 96 foreigners were on death row in Indonesia, all for drug offenses, according to data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections. Indonesia is also in discussions with Australia and France regarding the repatriation of some prisoners sentenced on drug charges. These include the five remaining members of Australia's "Bali Nine" and Serge Atlaoui, who has been jailed in Indonesia since his 2005 arrest.
Despite ongoing negotiations for prisoner transfers, the Indonesian government indicated on Thursday that it will resume executions of drug convicts on death row, which have been on hold since 2016. "The government will... study the acceleration of the execution of the death penalty for drug convicts that are legally binding and have no more legal remedies," said Coordinating Political and Security Minister Budi Gunawan.
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