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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH to honor the conditions for Veloso's transfer upon homecoming

PH to honor the conditions for Veloso's transfer upon homecoming

Published Dec 16, 2024 12:17 pm

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Monday, Dec. 16, vowed that the Philippines will honor Indonesia’s conditions for Filipina inmate Mary Jane Veloso, who will soon come home.

“With much appreciation and gratefulness to the Republic of Indonesia, we confirm the imminent return of our kababayan, Mary Jane Veloso,” he said in a statement.

“Duty-bound as we are to honor the conditions for her transfer to Philippine jurisdiction, we are truly elated to welcome Mary Jane back to her homeland and family, from whom she has been distanced for too long,” Bersamin added.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Veloso, 39, will be back in the Philippines in time for Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

“Mary Jane Veloso  is arriving on 18 Dec at 6 a.m. Manila time. Her ETD (estimated time of departure) in Jakarta is 12:50 am. This is confirmed,” DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro said on Monday, Dec. 16.

While the official did not mention what these conditions were, reports quoted Indonesia's Senior Minister for Law and Human Rights Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra saying that the Philippines agreed to respect the Indonesian court's sentencing of Veloso and her status as prisoner in Indonesia.

She will also be banned from returning to Indonesia, and it was also understood that the Philippines will consider repatriating an Indonesian citizen if it one day asks for the same favor.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul Vasquez also said that Veloso would serve her remaining sentence in the Philippines, though any clemency that would possibly be given to her depends on President Marcos.

Veloso’s death sentence is expected to be reduced to life imprisonment in the Philippines.

Bersamin said that Veloso’s homecoming is a result of years of discussions between the two governments.

“Her homecoming is the fruit of more than a decade of persistent discussions, consultations and diplomacy,” he said.

Last month, Indonesia agreed to repatriate Veloso, a domestic helper and mother of two who was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin concealed in a suitcase.

She was sentenced to death but was spared in 2015 in a last-minute plea to then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo to allow her to testify against a human and drug-smuggling syndicate in Manila.

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