Mary Jane Veloso to Return to Philippines After 14 Years on Death Row in Indonesia
Filipina Domestic Worker Sentenced to Death in Indonesia to Return Home After 14 years
Mary Jane Veloso,a Filipina domestic worker who faced execution in Indonesia for drug trafficking,is set to return to her home country on Wednesday.
Veloso’s long-awaited homecoming comes after a 14-year legal battle and a prisoner transfer agreement between Jakarta and Manila.
“We will bring her to the airport at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday,” said I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, a deputy at the Office of the Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister. ”The travel documents and airplane ticket have all been prepared by the [Philippine] embassy.”
Veloso, now 39, was arrested in 2010 at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta for carrying a suitcase containing 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She has maintained her innocence throughout her ordeal, claiming she was unaware the drugs were in her luggage.
Despite her pleas, Veloso was sentenced to death in the same year. A last-minute stay of execution was granted in 2015, and the philippine government afterward appealed to indonesia for clemency.
Veloso’s case sparked international attention and raised questions about the treatment of migrant workers and the fairness of Indonesia’s drug laws. Her return to the Philippines marks a notable development in a complex and emotionally charged legal saga.
Freedom at Last: Filipina Domestic Worker Mary Jane Veloso to Return Home After 14 Years in Indonesian prison
NewsDirect, manila – After a gripping 14-year legal battle, Filipina domestic worker Mary Jane Veloso is finally set to return home. Veloso, who faced execution in Indonesia for drug trafficking charges, will arrive in the Philippines on Wednesday evening.
Veloso was arrested in 2010 at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for carrying a suitcase containing 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She has consistently maintained her innocence, insisting she was unaware of the drugs hidden within her luggage.
Despite her pleas, Veloso was sentenced to death in 2010. A stay of execution was granted in 2015 following an appeal by the Philippine government. This sparked a global campaign for her release, highlighting concerns about the treatment of migrant workers and the rigor of Indonesian drug laws.
Veloso’s return home is the result of a prisoner transfer agreement struck between Jakarta and Manila.
“We will bring her to the airport at around 10 p.m. on Tuesday,” shared I Nyoman gede Surya Mataram, a deputy at the Office of the coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister. “the travel documents and airplane ticket have all been prepared by the [Philippine] embassy.”
Veloso’s case has captivated international attention, bringing to light crucial conversations surrounding justice, migrant worker rights, and the complexities of international drug laws. Her return to the Philippines marks a notable progress in a long and arduous legal journey.