Indonesia has formally agreed to transfer Filipino death row drug convict Mary Jane Veloso back to the Philippines, the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila said Friday.
In an interview with reporters, Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said, “[T]he Minister for Human Rights Corrections and Immigration and the DOJ of the Philippines has signed the practical agreements for the official transfer of Mary Jane Veloso back to the Philippines.”
“We would like to announce (that) officially, Mary Jane Veloso is coming home,” he added.
This came after a delegation of Philippine officials composed of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez and others attended a meeting with Indonesian authorities earlier today.
Veloso has been detained in Indonesia for 14 years after she was convicted of drug trafficking in 2010.
Earlier, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s senior minister for law and human rights affairs, said Jakarta would respect any decision made by the Philippines after Veloso returns home, including if she is given clemency.
Mahendra said it is expected that Veloso may return before Christmas.
In a press conference in Indonesia, Vasquez said they have yet to set the date but they are aiming to return Veloso home “as soon as possible.”
“We have to follow the internal rules and procedures of the Indonesian corrections authorities with respect to that. But as I said from the end of the Philippines, we are ready and able to do it anytime in order to facilitate the immediate transfer of Mary Jane,” he said.
According to Vasquez, Indonesia also did not set any conditions regarding the length of Veloso’s detention once she is transferred to Philippine authorities.
Despite this, Vasquez stressed that the Philippine government respects the sentence imposed by the Indonesian courts against Veloso.
“Once transferred in the country she will serve her sentence as agreed upon in accordance with Philippine Laws and regulations with respect to the Penal Code,” he said.
He reiterated that it is the decision of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on whether or not to grant Veloso clemency. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
