The Philippines no longer needs permission from the Indonesian government if executive clemency is granted to convicted Filipina drug courier Mary Jane Veloso once she returns home, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday, Dec. 9.
“Hindi na ho (It is not needed),” DOJ Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic F. Clavano told journalists when asked on the possible grant of executive clemency.
The Philippines and Indonesia signed last Friday, Dec. 6, an agreement on the transfer of the Veloso back to the Philippines.
Veloso, who has been on death row following her conviction, got caught with 2.6 kilograms of heroin upon her arrival at the Yogkarta airport in Indonesia in 2010.
Under the agreement between the two countries, Clavano explained “it is completely within the purview of the Philippine government through the President to issue executive clemency.”
H said “there seems to be no conditions imposed.”
“So bibigay lang ho si Mary Jane Veloso sa atin (Mary Jane Veloso will be handed to the Philippines) and it is up to us to decide on whether or not there should be other steps taken,” he also said.
He noted that “ang akala ho natin ay yung legal custody nasa Indonesia, physical custody lang po sa atin (we thought the legal custody will remain with Indonesia while the physical custody is with the Philippines).”
“But it seems right now, both legal and physical custody are now with the Philippines,” he said.
"As long as there is justifiable ground to issue executive clemency, madali lang naman ‘yun (it will be easy)," he also said.
“It goes through the Board of Pardon and Parole for screening and then up to the President for signing,” he explained.
However, Clavano said it has not been determined where Veloso will be detained in the Philippines.
He assured that Veloso will be kept separate from her convicted illegal recruiters Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanlinao.
Serio and Lacanlinao had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2020 for large-scale illegal recuitment filed by complainants Lorna Valina, Ana Marie Gonzales and Jenalyn Paraiso.
They are currently facing charges for qualified human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and estafa on complaints filed by Veloso's family.