Marcos grants absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso - GMA Network
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has granted absolute pardon to former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso, paving the way from her release from Philippine prison after once languishing on death row in Indonesia over drug charges.
"Sige, I'll give you a scoop. Pinirmahan ko na... Pinirmahan ko na yung pardon niya kahapon," Marcos said Friday, responding to a question from GMA News' Vonne Aquino in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
(Okay, I'll give you a scoop. I signed it already... I signed her pardon yesterday.)
Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Raymond "Abet" Garcia said Tuesday night that the Office of the President (OP) was "seriously considering" the granting of absolute pardon to Veloso. He reported matter during deliberations on the proposed OP budget, which he is sponsoring in the House of Representatives.
Garcia said the pardon was being considered "on humanitarian grounds in support of the government's commitment to protecting Filipino migrant workers."
It was later confirmed by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro that Marcos was seriously considering Velosoβs pardon. However, she did not provide a timeline for Velosoβs pardon.
"Sa simula po ay binabanggit na wala naman naging kasalanan, 'di umano, si Mary Jane Veloso. So doon tayo mag-start," Castro.
Velosoβs fight for freedom is a long one. Veloso was jailed in Indonesia for nearly 15 years, following her arrest on April 25, 2010 at the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogjakarta, Indonesia due to her alleged possession of heroin.
The former migrant worker has maintained that she was innocent, and that she was unknowingly used as a drug mule.
The District Court of Justice of Sieman In Yogjakarta sentenced her to death on October 11, 2010.
Her death sentence commuted in 2015 following a strong appeal from the late President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.
In December 2024, Indonesian authorities agreed to transfer custody over Veloso to the Philippines.
Veloso is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. She supposedly found out that she was detained for reclusion perpetua as indicated by her carpeta or inmate record at the jail facility. Under the Revised Penal Code, reclusion perpetua carries a sentence of 20 years and 1 day up to 40 years.
Velosoβs kin and various migrant groups have advocated for her release from prison, asking Marcos to grant her pardon. β VDV, GMA News
