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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace on Marcos' possible pardon for Veloso: Her return with no delay is the priority

Palace on Marcos' possible pardon for Veloso: Her return with no delay is the priority

Published Dec 17, 2024 03:42 am

Repatriating Filipino death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso is President Marcos' priority, Malacañang said.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said this as a response to a question whether or not the President is considering pardoning Veloso.

"Nothing to say yet on what may happen. The priority of PBBM is to have Veloso repatriated without delay," Bersamin said on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday evening, the Executive Secretary said it still premature to speculate on the Philippine Government's next move. 

"We will not talk about that yet. Let’s wait for her repatriation because it’s premature to speculate what we will do," Bersamin said.

The Palace official said they will wait for Veloso to return home first before talking about other possibilities.

He also said that the President could possibly meet Veloso when she arrives.

"Hindi ko lang alam pero siguro naman (I do not know yet but perhaps), that’s one of the possibilities," Bersamin said.

"We do not know. Because she must first arrive here before we can make a move," he added.
 

The Palace confirmed on Monday evening the imminent return of Veloso who was recently transferred to Jakarta in preparation for her repatriation.

She is set to arrive in Manila on Dec. 18, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

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 given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015, preventing her supposed execution. 

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