Filipina Sentenced to Death in Indonesia Returns to Manila
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Manila, Dec 18 (NationPress) Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who was on death row in Indonesia, made her way back to the capital of the Philippines on Wednesday morning, concluding years of diplomatic negotiations between the two Southeast Asian nations.
The 39-year-old woman had spent nearly 15 years imprisoned in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after her arrest in 2010 when authorities discovered 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in her suitcase at an airport.
A mother of two, who emigrated from the Philippines for work, has consistently denied the allegations of drug trafficking, claiming she was tricked into transporting the illegal substances. In 2015, she faced imminent execution by firing squad, but received a last-minute stay.
The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs reported that Indonesian officials transferred Veloso into the hands of Philippine authorities on Tuesday evening, facilitating her return.
The Philippine government expressed gratitude to Indonesia for facilitating Veloso's repatriation after over a decade of negotiations.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo stated, "This is a significant achievement for the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia, marking the trust and friendship between our two nations."
Upon her arrival in Manila, Veloso was taken to a women’s correctional facility.
The Philippines has abolished the death penalty long ago, eliminating the threat of her execution.
Last month, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos announced that Indonesia had agreed to repatriate the convicted Filipina.
Marcos stated that Mary Jane Veloso would soon return to the Philippines after 14 years of imprisonment in Indonesia, where she would continue to serve her sentence.
Manila has persistently requested Jakarta for Veloso's pardon, sentence commutation, and extradition, allowing her to serve her sentence back in the Philippines, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
