Mary Jane Veloso departs for Philippines

Convicted overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso departed for the Philippines on Wednesday evening after being detained in Indonesia for more than a decade, a report by DZBB said.

At the Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, Veloso boarded a commercial flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport where she is expected to arrive at 6 a.m. 

Veloso was not wearing handcuffs or body armor.

Upon her arrival at the Indonesian Airport on Wednesday evening she was welcomed by Philippine officials and members of the media. 

Veloso helped herself to a burger before the start of the scheduled press conference.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega gave her a phone and her face suddenly brightened as she talked to someone on video call. 

GMA Integrated News Emil Sumangil asked Veloso for a message as she stepped down from the convoy while being assisted by Indonesian authorities. 

In tears, Veloso thanked God as well as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that she was finally able to return home.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat…sa Pilipinas,” Veloso said. ...Maraming salamat kay President Prabowo...kay Pangulong Marcos," she said.

"This is my new life which I'll start again in the Philippines," she added, speaking in Bahasa, the main language of Indonesia.

"I have been in Indonesia for almost 15 years, I was not able to speak Indonesian back then but now I can... I am so happy today but also sad," she said.

At the end of her statement, Veloso sang some parts of Indonesia's national anthem and made a heart shape with her hands before saying goodbye.

At the airport, representatives from Indonesia and the Philippines governments signed a document transfer to mark the official handover.

Veloso is hoping that she can go home to her family and that she will be given clemency in the Philippines.

“Gusto ko na makalaya ako… Clemency... mapawalang sala. Kasi wala akong kasalanan,” she added. 

(I want to be freed... Clemency... be found found without guilt. I am innocent.)

Upon landing in Manila, Veloso will be brought to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City for a five-day quarantine. 

Even after the quarantine, the Bureau of Corrections said Veloso would still have to stay at the correctional facility for 50 days based on its guidelines.

Veloso's case caused an outcry in the Philippines. She was spared execution in 2015 at the last moment after Philippine officials asked Joko Widodo, then Indonesia's president, to let her testify against members of a human- and drug-smuggling ring.

The two governments signed an agreement for Veloso's transfer earlier this month, including that Manila respects the court's sentencing of Veloso and her status as a prisoner in Indonesia.

The Philippines said Veloso would serve her remaining sentence in her home country, with any decision on clemency dependent on Marcos.

Indonesia said it would respect any decision made by the Philippines, including if Veloso was given clemency.

Jakarta said Veloso will be banned from entering Indonesia again.

On Sunday, the five remaining members of the "Bali Nine" drug ring were repatriated to Australia from Indonesia.—With Reuters/LDF, GMA Integrated News