Philippine President Grants Absolute Pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, Former Death Row Inmate in Indonesia

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has granted an absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino woman who had been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking. This decision marks the end of a long legal battle spanning over 16 years, during which Veloso was imprisoned in both Indonesia and the Philippines. Beranda Migran, a migrant advocacy group in the Philippines, welcomed the pardon, hailing it as a victory for the prolonged efforts of Veloso's family and solidarity networks in the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries. Hanindha Kristy, Director of Beranda Migran, emphasized that this decision was not an abrupt governmental act but the culmination of years of advocacy by various groups, including migrant worker organizations, women's groups, civil society organizations, religious organizations, human rights groups, lawyers, activists, and international solidarity networks. These advocacy efforts encompassed a wide range of activities, such as campaigns, petitions, demonstrations, joint prayers, political lobbying, legal aid, media campaigns, garnering international support, and pressing both the Indonesian and Philippine governments. Even after Veloso was transferred from Indonesia to the Philippines in December 2024, the advocacy continued. In June 2026, her family and support organizations organized further actions demanding her full release. During the same period, Veloso was also able to provide testimony in a human trafficking case related to her recruiters, a process that had been delayed for years. Hanindha stated that the absolute pardon should be viewed as a result of the long-standing people's movement that has been voicing humanitarian reasons for her release, rather than a sudden discovery of such reasons by the government. Despite the absolute pardon, Beranda Migran cautioned that this should not be the end of the struggle. The Philippine government is urged to ensure that this pardon translates into full rehabilitation for Veloso and her family. Furthermore, the group insists that legal proceedings against those allegedly involved in human trafficking and recruiting Veloso must continue, while safeguarding her rights and safety as a victim. Source: Suara.com