Mary Jane Veloso arrives home in Nueva Ecija

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Former overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso has finally returned to her hometown in General Mamerto Trinidad, Nueva Ecija on Saturday after the administration granted her an absolute pardon.

The land travel may have made her feel nauseous, but everything was worth the wait after finally being with her family.

She was warmly welcomed by her friends and family in Barangay Burol, which she had not seen for 16 years. The municipality also gave her a cake and a tarpaulin to mark the milestone in her life.

Mary Jane spent dinner with her loved ones at the home that was the fruit of her years of working as an OFW. To celebrate her freedom, she had her favorite dish: pinakbet and grilled tilapia.

Mary Jane and her mother, Celia, will attend Mass on Sunday.

While she wanted to forget what happened in the past, Celia said that she would respect her daughter’s decision if she decides to file charges against her recruiters.

On the other hand, General Mamerto Trinidad Mayor Larry Ponce said that the local government will recognize Mary Jane on October 5 for showing bravery despite the challenges she faced.

The local government will also provide financial assistance and livelihood to Mary Jane.

Mary Jane was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 on charges of drug trafficking. This was after heroin was found in a suitcase that someone asked her to bring.

She was scheduled for execution in 2015, but this was halted after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III interceded for her with the Indonesian government.

Indonesia transferred her custody to the Philippines in 2024.

Mary Jane was formally released from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) on Friday after the necessary procedures were completed.

Her family fetched her from CIW on Saturday, then they attended Mass and held a press conference before going back to her hometown in Nueva Ecija. —with reports from Rommel Ramos/Vince Angelo Ferreras/KG, GMA News