Palace 'seriously considering' absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso

The Office of the President is "seriously considering" to grant absolute pardon to former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso, the erstwhile death row inmate in Indonesia who remains in jail in the Philippines on drug charges.

Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Raymond "Abet" Garcia reported the matter Tuesday night during deliberations on the proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP), which he is sponsoring in the House of Representatives.

Video posted by GMA News' Bea Pinlac 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.

Elago then asked how long the evaluation process for Veloso will last, considering that the former OFW has been away 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 stood behind Garcia when Elago raised questions about Veloso.

Malacañang previously said the Office of the Executive Secretary is reviewing the legal provisions surrounding Veloso's case, as well as the Philippine government's engagements with Indonesia.

Veloso has been in jail for about 16 years, following her arrest on April 25, 2010 at the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogjakarta, Indonesia due to her alleged possession of 2.6 kilos of heroin.

Veloso's camp has maintained that she is a victim, and that she was unknowingly exploited as a drug mule.

The District Court of Justice of Sieman In Yogjakarta sentenced her to death on October 11, 2010.

Her death sentence commuted in 2015 following a strong appeal from the Philippine government, led by the late President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.

In December 2024, Indonesian authorities agreed to transfer custody over Veloso to the Philippines.

Veloso is currently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. She supposedly found out that she was detained for reclusion perpetua as indicated by her carpeta or inmate record at the jail facility.

Under the Revised Penal Code, reclusion perpetua carries a sentence of 20 years and 1 day up to 40 years. — VDV, GMA News