Mary Jane Veloso, who received a last-minute reprieve from execution by firing squad for drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2015, arrived in Manila in the early hours of Wednesday, after years of negotiations between the two Southeast Asian countries .
Veloso, 39, a former domestic worker and mother of two, told reporters in Jakarta that she was ready to start a new life in the Philippines.
Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after being found with 2.6kg of heroin hidden in a suitcase. She said she was an unwitting drug mule, but was sentenced to death.
His release came just days after the five remaining members of the ‘Bali Nine’ drug ring were repatriated to Australia from Indonesia.
Veloso was met with intense security upon her arrival at Manila airport and was transported directly to a women’s prison facility. His family and the dozens of supporters waiting outside the terminal did not greet Veloso upon his arrival.
“They made my daughter a criminal even though she is innocent. They didn’t let us see her. We wanted to hug her,” her father Cesar Veloso told reporters at the airport, breaking into tears.
His mother Celia Veloso was more optimistic, saying: “The important thing is that he is already here.”
Edre Olalia, Veloso’s lawyer in the Philippines, said authorities gave the family private time with her in the prison facility.
The two governments agreed this month to transfer Veloso to Manila, in a deal that requires the Philippines to respect the court’s ruling on Veloso and her prisoner status.
Any decision on his clemency will depend on Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Tuesday that it is “premature to speculate” on what Marcos will do.
Indonesia has said it will respect any decision made by the Philippines, even if Veloso wins clemency.
Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo thanked the Indonesian government for its “sincere and decisive action” to allow Veloso to return home in time for the Christmas holidays.
“Their generosity made this important day of Mrs. Veloso’s return to the Philippines possible,” Manalo said in a statement.
