Palace 'seriously considering' absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso

The Office of the President is "seriously considering" granting an absolute pardon to former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso, who was once a death row inmate in Indonesia and is currently detained in the Philippines on drug charges. Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Raymond "Abet" Garcia reported the development Tuesday night during deliberations on the proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP) in the House of Representatives. Video posted by GMA News showed Garcia responding to questions from Gabriela Women's Party Representative Sarah Jane Elago regarding Veloso's case. "Yes madam, Speaker, distinguished colleagues, the Office of the President is seriously considering to grant absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian grounds in support of the government's commitment to protecting Filipino migrant workers," Garcia said. When Elago inquired about the timeline for the evaluation process, considering Veloso has been separated from her family for over a decade due to her prolonged legal battle, Garcia responded, "there will be an announcement in a few days." Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was present behind Garcia as Elago raised her questions. Veloso has been in jail for approximately 16 years since her arrest on April 25, 2010, at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for alleged possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin. Her camp maintains she was an unwitting victim exploited as a drug mule. She was sentenced to death by the District Court of Justice of Sleman in Yogyakarta on October 11, 2010. Her death sentence was commuted in 2015 following strong appeals from the Philippine government, led by the late President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III. In December 2024, Indonesian authorities agreed to transfer Veloso's custody to the Philippines. She is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. Her inmate record indicates she is serving a sentence of reclusion perpetua, which under the Revised Penal Code carries a penalty of 20 years and 1 day up to 40 years imprisonment.