Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino national who was on death row in Indonesia, has officially been transferred to the Philippines.
Veloso was originally sentenced to death in 2010 after being arrested for smuggling heroin into Indonesia. However, she has consistently maintained that she was a victim of human trafficking and was unaware of the drugs in her possession.
Veloso’s return to the Philippines was made possible through diplomatic negotiations between the Indonesian and Philippine governments.
The agreement facilitated the transfer of Veloso from an Indonesian prison to a facility in the Philippines, where she will continue to serve her sentence.
Migrante International, a group advocating for the rights of Filipino migrant workers, expressed their approval of Veloso’s transfer.
The Indonesian government initially resisted Veloso’s transfer, citing the severity of her crime. However, pressure from various human rights organizations and the Philippine government led to a reevaluation of her case.
Veloso was granted a last-minute reprieve from execution in 2015 after a trafficking suspect in the Philippines surrendered and revealed new evidence supporting her claims.
The Philippine government welcomed Veloso’s return, with officials emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and supporting victims of human trafficking.
They have committed to continue working with Indonesian authorities to ensure justice for Veloso and other individuals in similar situations.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been vocal about the need to protect overseas Filipino workers from exploitation and abuse.