LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the country was not giving up on its plea for Indonesia to pardon convicted overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso despite the impasse on her drug case.

President Marcos (Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool), Mary Jane Veloso (File photo)

Marcos said this before the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

In an interview with reporters, the President said despite the situation not changing, the Philippines has not given up on asking Indonesia for mercy for the imprisoned OFW.

"Well, ganoon pa rin (It's still the same). We haven't really stopped," he said.

"The impasse is that we continue to ask for a commutation or even a pardon or just extradition back to the Philippines. And that is constantly there. But, the Indonesians answer us and – that this is the law," he added.

President Marcos said he would bring up Veloso's case up again if he gets the chance to talk to Indonesian President Joko Widodo. However, Marcos might not have the opportunity to talk to Widodo during the ASEAN Summit due to the latter's busy schedule as the meeting's chairman.

"That doesn't mean it's done. I always, I always at least bring it up na baka sakali, baka sakali magbago (in hopes that they might change their mind)," he said.

"We said, yes, we understand that she is convicted. We understand that the law in Indonesia is that way. But nonetheless, baka makahanap tayo ng paraan (we might find a way)," he added.

"Iuwi na lang namin ‘yan. Kami na magpaparusa sa kanya (We'll bring her home and we'll punish her), whatever. Anyway, to ask for clemency, to ask for grace when it comes to this," he continued.

Veloso is on death row in Indonesia and was supposed to be executed by firing squad after she was caught with 2.6 kilograms of heroin at an Indonesian airport in 2010. Veloso denied knowing that she possessed the contraband.

In April 2015, she was granted a last-minute reprieve after a reported phone call from the late president Benigno Aquino III to the Indonesian government, saying her alleged recruiters had already surrendered to Philippine authorities.

More than a year later, reports stated that former president Rodrigo Duterte told Widodo that the Philippines would not interfere with Indonesia's legal processes.