By Mark Vincent A. Durano and Kasharelle Javier

Mary Jane Veloso called upon President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to grant her absolute clemency for her illegal possession of drugs charges upon her long-awaited arrival in the Philippines after nearly 15 years of Indonesian custody and death row yesterday morning, December 18.

The now 39-year old overseas Filipino worker is currently under a five-day quarantine in the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City before undergoing a 55-day orientation and security evaluation. She will then be transferred to a regular cell to serve the rest of her sentence.

Veloso appealed to Marcos Jr. to grant her clemency, asserting she is innocent.

“Gusto ko na makalaya ako… Clemency... mapawalang sala. Kasi wala akong kasalanan (I want to be free... Clemency... be found without guilt. I am innocent),” she stated to the media.

Philippine officials also held a press conference at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction on the eve of her transfer.

Moreover, Veloso extended her gratitude to now Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and God, expressing that all her prayers to finally go back to the Philippines were answered.

“I thank God. Finally, all my prayers were answered today, and I will come back to my country. I believe that God has plans for me. I [also] want to thank Prabowo Subianto,” she said in Bahasan. 

The Nueva Ecija-native also shared that everyone was kind to her and supported her repatriation during her time in Indonesia, which made her departure ‘emotional,’ but she also emphasized going home as her two sons are waiting for her.

“I can’t say much, but I’m very happy. And during my time in Indonesia, everyone was kind to me. All the staff and inmates were kind to me, and they supported my repatriation. It’s also sad for me, but I have to go home and I will celebrate Christmas with my family here,” Veloso expressed in Bahasan.

Meanwhile, Mary Jane’s family from Nueva Ecija, together with her legal counsel, showed support to her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with a banner welcoming her back home.

Celia Veloso, Mary Jane’s mother, was eager to finally reunite with her daughter after being separated for over a decade. 

“Dahil sa maraming mga tao at organisasyong sumusuporta sa amin sa loob at labas ng bansa, hindi lamang natin naisalba si Mary Jane sa pagbitay. Sa wakas, makakapiling [na] namin si Mary Jane dito sa Pilipinas dahil sa tulong niyong lahat (Because of the many people and organizations supporting us both inside and outside the country, we not only saved Mary Jane from execution. Finally, we will be able to be with Mary Jane here in the Philippines, thanks to all of your help),” she said.

However, the celebration was cut short since Mary Jane was not granted to have an immediate and proper family reunion due to the quarantine.

They were only able to reunite at CIW.

Darren Candaleria, the 16-year old son of Mary Jane, expressed his disappointment that despite finally having the chance to have his mother in the Philippines, they were not allowed to see and hug her when she immediately arrived.

“Ngayon na nga lang ako magkakaroon ng nanay dito sa Pilipinas, ‘di man lang kami pinayagan[g] makita at yakapin siya sa pag-uwi niya. Sana huwag nang patagalin pa ang pagdurusa ng aming pamilya (Now that I finally have the chance to have a mother here in the Philippines, we weren’t even allowed to see and hug her when she came home. I hope our family’s suffering won’t be prolonged any further),” he said.

Former Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate shared the same sentiments with Candelaria, asserting that Veloso’s homecoming should not be treated as a prisoner but as the return of a Filipino who has suffered enough. Hence, transferring her to the correctional institution without reuniting with her family would be an “unnecessary cruelty.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Marcos Jr.’s decision on whether to give Veloso’s executive clemency is still pending.

The mother-of-two was found guilty by the District Court of Justice of Sleman in Yogyakarta for possession of 2.6 kg of heroin upon arrival at the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta in 2010.

Throughout the case’s development of repeated appeals and reviews, then-President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III requested for her clemency to then-Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In a last-minute call by Aquino, Veloso’s execution was suspended when her recruiter Maria Kristina Sergio surrendered to Philippine authorities, facing charges of illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and estafa in 2015.

(Photo courtesy of Maria Tan/ABS-CBN News)