By Mark Vincent A. Durano

After more than 14 years under Indonesian custody and death row, human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso will be back home in the Philippines and detained until clemency is given, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. confirmed last November 20.

Indonesia Law and Human rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced that President Prabowo Subianto "approved the transfer," which is eyed to transpire next month.

Currently, there is no written agreement between the two countries but Marcos is open to grant clemency as the death sentence has been also lifted.

"It's been 10 years. What we have done is we were able to have her sentence commuted from death to life imprisonment," he said to the media.

Foreign Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo de Vega also stated that Veloso will remain detained until a mutual agreement has been reached to give her clemency.

Moreover, Veloso’s family and several human rights groups reiterated their calls to provide her clemency.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa ating mahal na Pangulo — ang iaabot ko lang po sa kaniya na sana po, bigyan na po ng clemency ang aking anak. Diretso na po dito sa bahay. ‘Wag na po niyang puwersahan diyan sa kulungan…. Pero kung ikulong pa rin niya, sana po humihingi ako sa [kaniya] ng safety,” Veloso’s father Cesar said in an interview with DZBB.

He also shared that Veloso’s two sons are also elated for her nearing return.

Several supporters also staged a candle-lighting prayer vigil for her safe return in St. Anthony Shrine in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday, November 23.

In light of the development, Makabayan Chairperson and senatorial candidate Liza Maza asserted the need for championing the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

“This moment is a testament to the relentless efforts of Mary Jane’s family, migrants organizations here and abroad, and countless advocates who have fought tirelessly for her freedom. But, true justice doesn’t end with her return—it demands urgent action against her traffickers and political reforms to address systemic failures that leave our workers vulnerable,” she said.

Maza also urged the Marcos administration to extend their aid in other similar cases of exploitation and human trafficking.

"Mary Jane Veloso's case cannot be another forgotten story… Her fight for justice must be the catalyst for sweeping reforms that protect all migrant workers from the horrors of trafficking," the former lawmaker added.

Threat of execution

Veloso just got home on new year 2010 after an alleged rape attempt from her employers in Dubai, after working for 10 months as a domestic worker.

On April 21, 2010, she arrived in Malaysia after being offered the same job by Maria Kristina Sergio, which was found to be no longer available.

After a few days, Sergio sent Veloso to Indonesia for a supposed week-long holiday before going back to Malaysia for employment.

She was then arrested by the Customs and Excise authorities due to alleged possession of 2.6 kg of heroin upon arrival at the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta on April 25, 2010.

The detainee did not let her family know about her situation until May 12 of the same year. 

Sergio then threatened Veloso’s family to remain silent in return for their safety due to a membership under an international drug syndicate. However, they still asked for help from the Philippine government.

On October 11 of the same year, the mother-of-two faced a death sentence by the District Court of Justive of Sieman in Yojkarta but was appealed by the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta to the Appeals Court of Yogyakarta 11 days after.

This was then followed by a series of upholding of the decision by the Court of Appeals of Yogyakarta and the Supreme Court the following year in February.

Then-President Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino III requested for her clemency to then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono on August 23, 2011, who imposed a moratorium on executions.

Meanwhile, the execution remained pending until then-President Joko Widodo issued a Presidential Decision 31/G - 2014 that rejected the said request on December 30, 2014.

The succeeding year, the case was filed for a judicial review, however, the Indonesian Supreme Court rejected it. A second judicial review was then filed again. Afterwards, the mother-of-two was transferred to Nusa Kumbagan Island, dubbed as ‘Execution Island.’

On April 28, 2015, Sergio surrendered to Philippine authorities and faced illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and estafa charges. The day after, Veloso’s execution was suspended until all proceedings were done after a last-minute phone call by Aquino. 

When Rodrigo Duterte took the seat as president, he gave a “go ahead” to Widodo and “follow their rules” even when it comes to executing the OFW, according to a report by Jakarta Post. She also asked for Duterte to allow her to testify against her traffickers during her 33rd birthday on January 10, 2018.

Additionally, Veloso’s alleged traffickers were convicted for large-scale illegal recruitment in a separate case two years after.

(Photo courtesy of Suryo Wibowo/AFP)