Filipino Woman Returns Home After Nearly 15 Years on Indonesian Death Row

Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino national, has returned to her home country after spending close to 15 years awaiting execution on death row in Indonesia, having narrowly avoided a firing squad. Ms. Veloso received a death sentence in 2010 following her apprehension at an Indonesian airport with 2.6kg (5.7lb) of heroin in her possession. However, the 39-year-old mother of two has consistently asserted that she was deceived into transporting the illicit substances. Her repatriation to Manila occurred on Wednesday, facilitated by an agreement between the two nations’ governments. During a news conference, she stated, “This is a new life for me and I will have a new beginning in the Philippines,” and expressed her desire to celebrate Christmas with her family. She further added, “I have to go home because I have a family there, I have my children waiting for me.” Although the terms of the accord stipulate that Veloso will be repatriated as an inmate, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos possesses the authority to issue a reprieve. She is currently held at the primary correctional facility for women in Metro Manila. Ms. Veloso’s arrest took place in April 2010 at Yogyakarta airport. She recounted being persuaded by the daughter of one of her godparents to journey to Indonesia for a prospective new role as a domestic worker. Her account alleges that the woman’s male companions provided her with new attire and a new bag, into which, unbeknownst to her, heroin had been sewn. Her execution by firing squad was scheduled for 2015; however, Benigno Aquino III, then the Philippine president, secured a last-minute stay of execution for her. This occurred subsequent to the arrest and trial for human trafficking of the individual suspected of recruiting her, in which Ms. Veloso was designated a prosecution witness. The reprieve was granted with such immediacy that multiple Philippine newspapers had already printed front pages and headlines indicating her execution had proceeded. Ms. Veloso’s situation garnered extensive public empathy within the Philippines, a nation where capital punishment is not practiced. Her plight resonated with many Filipinos, given the prevalent trend of women seeking employment overseas as domestic helpers to alleviate poverty. As she departed the prison en route to the airport, she remarked, “I bring a lot of things, such as guitar, books, knittings … even this T-shirt I’m wearing was given by my friends.” Her transfer follows by only a few days the return of the five remaining individuals from the notorious “Bali Nine” drug syndicate to their home countries, subsequent to their nearly 20-year incarceration in Indonesian correctional facilities. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.