EXPLAINER | Behind Bars for a Decade: Mary Jane Veloso’s Journey
Ivan Howard Sumauang
Mary Jane Veloso's saga began in 2010 when she sought better opportunities as a domestic worker abroad, only to find herself ensnared in a legal nightmare that led to her death sentence in Indonesia. After years of diplomatic negotiations and public outcry, she has now returned to the country.
Her repatriation followed a diplomatic agreement signed on December 6, allowing her to testify about being misled into drug trafficking. Upon arrival, she was taken to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong for a five-day quarantine before further legal proceedings regarding her potential clemency.
As of November 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that an agreement has been reached for Veloso's repatriation from Indonesia. However, her return does not guarantee immediate freedom; Philippine authorities have confirmed that she will be detained upon arrival until further legal arrangements are made regarding her clemency.
Veloso's harrowing journey from a hopeful overseas worker to a death-row inmate in Indonesia has captivated the Philippines and sparked widespread advocacy for her plight. Her return after more than a decade of legal battles, her story raises questions about justice, exploitation, and the fate of overseas Filipino workers.
Arrest and legal struggles
Mary Jane Veloso's journey began when she returned to the Philippines on January 1, 2010, after working for ten months as a domestic worker in Dubai. She left her job prematurely due to an alleged attempted rape by her employer. Seeking better opportunities, she was offered a job by her friend, Maria Kristina "Tintin" Sergio, as a domestic worker in Malaysia on April 18, 2010.
Upon arriving in Malaysia on April 21, Veloso was informed that the job was no longer available. Instead, Sergio arranged for Veloso to travel to Indonesia for what was presented as a short holiday, with plans for her to find employment afterward. Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Customs authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin concealed in her luggage. Initially, her family received false reassurances from Sergio about Veloso's well-being; however, on May 12, Veloso revealed her dire situation to them.
Despite threats from Sergio about the dangers posed by an international drug syndicate—which she claimed would spend millions to secure Veloso's release from prison—Veloso's family sought assistance from the Philippine government.
Fight against injustice
Veloso was sentenced to death on October 11, 2010, by the District Court of Justice in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after being convicted of drug trafficking. Following her conviction, the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta took immediate action by filing an appeal with the Appeals Court of Yogyakarta on October 22, 2010. They also recommended hiring a private lawyer to assist with her case, which led to the disbursement of funds for legal representation.
Despite these efforts, Veloso's death sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals on February 10, 2011. Her legal team continued to fight for her freedom by filing a Memorandum of Appeal at the Supreme Court of Indonesia on February 21, 2011. However, the Supreme Court confirmed her death penalty on May 31, 2011. Throughout this tumultuous process, Veloso maintained her innocence, asserting that she was unaware of the drugs hidden in her luggage.
Presidential interventions: aquino and duterte
On April 24, 2015, Mary Jane Veloso was transferred to Nusa Kambangan Island—often referred to as "Execution Island"—where condemned prisoners awaited their fate. This transfer occurred amid heightened tensions as the Philippine government sought to intervene in her case. On the same day, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that a second judicial review had been filed, indicating ongoing legal efforts to challenge her death sentence.
The situation escalated further when, on April 28, 2015, then-President Benigno Aquino III had a brief meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during an ASEAN conference in Malaysia to discuss Veloso's predicament. The following day, April 29, 2015, Veloso's execution was suspended pending the resolution of all legal proceedings in the Philippines. The DFA attributed this reprieve to Aquino's appeal to Widodo, which highlighted the diplomatic efforts being made to save her life.
However, reports surfaced later indicating a shift in the Philippine government's stance under President Rodrigo Duterte. On September 12, 2016, it was reported that Duterte had given the Indonesian government the "go-ahead" to execute Veloso, raising concerns among her supporters and advocates.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected Veloso's petition for judicial review on March 25, 2015. The rejection intensified calls from various sectors in the Philippines for continued advocacy and support for Veloso as her case drew widespread attention both locally and internationally.
Recent developments under president Marcos
On August 31, 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. indicated his intention to discuss Mary Jane Veloso's case during his state visit to Indonesia. In September 2022, Veloso’s family appealed to Marcos Jr. for Widodo to grant executive clemency for Veloso.
By January 11, 2024, progress was made when Marcos received assurances from then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo that Veloso's case would be reexamined.
Situation upon return
Following extensive negotiations and advocacy efforts culminating in December 2024’s agreement between Indonesia and the Philippines regarding her repatriation and custody transfer—Veloso is now under Philippine jurisdiction but remains detained while awaiting potential clemency from President Marcos Jr., who has yet to make any public commitment regarding her pardon.
In addition to ongoing discussions about clemency within government circles, supporters are actively gathering signatures for petitions urging immediate executive clemency for Veloso based on humanitarian grounds due to her status as a victim of human trafficking.