Mary Jane Veloso walks out of prison after Marcos’ absolute pardon

MANILA, Philippines—Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso is finally free after she has been released from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City.

This event comes following an absolute pardon granted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Veloso walked out of the facility with full civil and political rights, completely extinguishing the legal liabilities stemming from her 2010 arrest.

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Her 16-year ordeal began when she was arrested at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after 2.6 kilograms of heroin were discovered hidden in the lining of her luggage.

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She was subsequently tried and sentenced to death.

Veloso was reportedly duped by promises of employment abroad.

In 2015, following extensive diplomatic negotiations and public campaigns, Indonesian authorities granted Veloso a last-minute reprieve hours before her scheduled execution.

The stay allowed her to testify against her illegal recruiters in the Philippines. She is represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).

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Then, on December 2024, following a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement forged between the Philippine and Indonesian governments, Veloso was repatriated to Manila.

Upon her arrival, the Bureau of Corrections held her at the CIW while local authorities evaluated her legal status. /apl