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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA: Mary Jane Veloso already in Jakarta to return home this week

DFA: Mary Jane Veloso already in Jakarta to return home this week

Published Dec 16, 2024 06:30 am

Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who was on death row inmate in Indonesia, is expected to return to the Philippines within this week as Manila and Jakarta signed the transfer agreement regarding her case.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega made the announcement Monday, Dec. 16, as Veloso was already transferred from Yogyakarta to the Indonesian capital, where she is set to take her flight back home.

"Hopefully later this week [she'll fly home], maybe in 2-3 days," De Vega said in a message.

De Vega said Veloso's family was already scheduled to fly to Indonesia to visit her in her Yogyakarta detention this Christmas, but their trip was cancelled due to the information they received that she was already transferred to a Jakarta prison.

"May na-receive kami noong Sabado na advisory ng Indonesia na ililipat na siya nung center sa Jakarta, wala pa tayong confirmation pero most likely na nandoon na siya ngayon (We received an advisory last Saturday from Indonesia that she was already transferred to a center in Jakarta. We have not had any confirmation yet, but most likely, she's already there)," he said.

"Dahil doon hindi na natin na pinapunta iyong family, ang the best diyan salubungin na lang nila pagdating dito (Because of that, we did not let her family fly there anymore. The best thing to do is for them to welcome her here)," he added.

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Photo courtesy of Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction

Veloso, 39, had been detained in Indonesia since 2010 after Indonesian authorities found 2.6 kilos of heroin inside her luggage. Veloso maintained her innocence, saying she was only duped to carry the luggage.

She was set to be executed in April 2015. But former Indonesian president Joko Widodo gave her a last-minute reprieve when the one who recruited her to work in Indonesia, Maria Kristina Sergio, surrendered to authorities in the Philippines.

"Gagawa ng announcement mamaya yung Indonesia to confirm na nasa Jakarta na siya today tapos in the next few days, malaki ang tyansa na mauuwi na siya (Indonesia will make an announcement later to confirm that she's already in Jakarta. Then, in the next few days, there's a big chance that she'll be able to return home)," De Vega said in an interview with state-run news program PTV.

De Vega said the Philippine government will shoulder the costs for her repatriation.

He also said that either the Bureau of Immigration (BI) or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will go to Indonesia for Veloso's turnover as agreed by both countries.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government said it is already letting the Philippine government to decide on her case, including giving her clemency.

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Repatriation MARY JANE VELOSO
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