The Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan or Makabayan Bloc of the 19th Congress, 3rd regular session led by Representative Arlene Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, Rep France Castro of ACT Teachers Partylist and Rep Raoul Manuel of Kabataan Partylist filed today, December 11, 2024 House Resolution No. 2128 urging the Philippine government through PBBM, to grant Mary Jane Veloso clemency for her drug trafficking conviction in Indonesia.
Mary Jane was arrested in Yogyakarta Airport in Indonesia in April 25, 2010 for allegedly possessing illegal drugs inside the lining of her luggage given by her recruiter. After few months of trial, Mary Jane was found guilty and sentenced to death. The following year, Mary Jane’s sentence was suspended after series of protests held in the Philippines as well as in Indonesia and different countries worldwide that forced the PH government to make series of appeal through its PH Embassy in Jakarta. The global protests was led by MIGRANTE International together with its partner grassroots migrants and human rights defenders and institutions.
on March 4, 2020, the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld its decision with finality to allow Mary Jane Veloso to testify against her recruiters by way of deposition in Indonesia.
However, the recent changes in the Presidency in Indonesia, the incumbent Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, through the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction, manifested that as part of constructive diplomacy, they are considering prisoner transfer for foreign detainees, including Mary Jane. And on December 6, 2024, both the Philippine and Indonesian governments agreed to transfer Mary Jane to the Philippines, pursuant to Indonesia’s “Transfer of Prisoners” policy.
Thus Mary Jane’s family including its supporters call for the clemency of Mary Jane upon return to the Philippines for humanitarian reason and as a matter of justice after suffering for 14 years in jail.