The Philippines and Indonesia on Friday, Dec. 6, signed an agreement for the transfer of convicted drug courier Mary Jane Veloso back to her home country.
“Your big hearts really paved the way for the final realization of a long sought effort to have Mary Jane Veloso be brought back to the Philippines,” Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez told the Indonesian government during the signing ceremony.
Vasquez, on behalf of DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, signed the agreement with Indonesian Minister on Legal Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
He said "this is a sui generis (class alone or unique) kind of arrangement, meaning to say it is one of a kind” since there exist no treaty between the Philippines and Indonesia for the transfer of sentenced persons.
“This has been a long and tedious process of 10 years and what a fitting end to have a gift like this during Christmas,” Vasquez said who also noted that the signing coincided with the 75th anniversary of the friendship between the two countries.
He said the return of Veloso to the Philippines will also facilitate the prosecution of her recruiters who have already been convicted but are still facing charges of qualified human trafficking and estafa.
At the moment, he said no date has been set as to when Veloso will be transferred to the Philippines.
“We don’t have a specific date but it is as soon possible. We have to follow the internal rules and procedures of the Indonesian corrections authorities with respect to that,” he explained.
But he expressed hope that “we would be able to do this before Christmas so that it would be a happier Christmas for everyone.”
On the part of the Philippines, Vasquez assured that “we are ready and able to do it anytime in order to facilitate the immediate transfer.”
“We do understand and we respect the decision of the Indonesian courts with respect to the sentence that was meted on our citizen Mary Jane Veloso and we will endeavour to let her serve her sentence,” he also said.
Veloso was sentenced to death after being caught in 2010 for attempting to smuggle into Indonesia 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
“Once transferred to the country, she will serve her sentence, as agreed upon, in accordance with Philippine laws and regulations with respect to the penal code,” Vasquez said.
“So we will definitely be coordinating with the Indonesian government in respect to that and inform them of all developments in respect to the treatment of Mary Jane when she would be transferred,” he added.
When asked by journalists if the agreement includes the possibility of granting clemency to Veloso, Vasquez said there is none.
He pointed out that the grant of executive clemency is “a decision that rests exclusively on the President of the Philippines.”