The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday, Nov. 20, that Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino domestic worker who is facing death row in Indonesia, will still be detained upon her return to the Philippines, but is hoping that she be granted clemency for her eventual freedom.
Hopes are high that Veloso would be granted an absolute liberty as she comes back to the country; but that will only happen if either Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto or President Marcos give her the executive clemency.
"There are two options: we will request, while she's here, for the official release from detention, from the Indonesian Criminal Procedure system, or another one [or] they will allow our President to issue the clemency on the basis that she's been here," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said in a press briefing.
While Marcos announced that Veloso is finally coming home to the Philippines, the legal jurisdiction over her case remains with Indonesia.
So, the Philippine government still has to detain her and needs to request Prabowo to grant Veloso clemency or allow President Marcos to do so.
De Vega said that the Philippine government is respecting Indonesia's jurisdiction over Veloso's case and is grateful that it has allowed her transfer to the Philippine prison; but it is going to be "a bonus" if Jakarta will allow President Marcos to issue the clemency.
"The goal would be not just for to be transferred, but for the President to be able to issue clemency," he said.
According to De Vega, Veloso will be back in the country once the Indonesian government formally permits her return.
"When she gets here, she will not immediately be released. It means we will commit to detain her until such time that we have mutual agreement that she could be given clemency. But at least, she would be here," de Vega said.
Although detained, Veloso will no longer be the subject of the prosecution but a witness in the charges filed in local courts against her recruiters.
Diplomatic efforts
On Nov. 15, De Vega already confirmed to reporters that Jakarta was already considering the transfer to the Philippine prison of Veloso after years of diplomatic efforts taken by both countries.
That developed after Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Gina Alagon Jamoralin met with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra, he said.
Veloso's case was proof that friendly relations between both countries are strong, considering that Indonesia did not ask for a "quid pro quo"—or something in return—in exchange for Veloso's transfer.
Also, "the very fact that Miss Veloso is still alive this very day is a tribute to the work that our government has been doing for over a decade, but also to the warm ties of friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia, and we are very grateful for this," added De Vega.