After being wrongfully detained for carrying drugs, Mary Jane Veloso is back home in the Philippines, having narrowly escaped execution. Her case has sparked immense public support and highlights the challenges faced by overseas workers.
Filipina Mary Jane Veloso Finally Returns Home After 15 Years on Death Row
Filipina Mary Jane Veloso Finally Returns Home After 15 Years on Death Row
Mary Jane Veloso, who spent nearly 15 years in an Indonesian prison, shares her story of survival and hope upon returning to the Philippines.
Mary Jane Veloso, a 39-year-old mother of two, has finally returned to her home in the Philippines after spending almost 15 years on death row in Indonesia, where she was nearly executed by firing squad. In 2010, Veloso was sentenced to death for carrying 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs) of heroin through Yogyakarta airport, but she has consistently claimed that she was deceived into transporting the drugs.
On Tuesday night, Philippine officials facilitated her handover, marking a significant turning point in her long ordeal. “This is a new life for me, and I will have a new beginning in the Philippines,” she expressed at a press conference. With Christmas approaching, she eagerly looks forward to reuniting with her children. “I have to go home because I have a family there, I have my children waiting for me,” she added.
Although Veloso's repatriation has been confirmed, it is noted that she will return under prison status—yet there remains potential for clemency through Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Veloso's trouble began in April 2010 when she was lured to Indonesia under the pretext of securing work as a maid, a common route many Filipinas take to escape poverty. She claimed that the daughter of one of her godparents had convinced her to travel, and she unwittingly carried heroin sewn into a new bag gifted by unknown associates.
In 2015, just moments before her scheduled execution, the Philippine government intervened after the arrest of the trafficker who recruited her. Veloso was subsequently named a prosecution witness, which delayed her execution.
Her situation resonated deeply with the public back home, especially since the Philippines abolished the death penalty. Her case highlighted the harrowing realities faced by many Filipina workers seeking opportunities overseas. While leaving prison, Veloso remarked, “I bring a lot of things, such as guitar, books, knitting ... even this T-shirt I'm wearing was given by my friends.”
Mary Jane Veloso's transfer coincides with the recent release of the last five members of the notorious "Bali Nine," who spent nearly two decades in prison for drug-related offenses.
