MARY JANE VELOSO IS FINALLY HOME

OVERSEAS Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso who was convicted and has spent 14 years in prison in Indonesia for alleged drug trafficking is finally home.

Veloso arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City on board Cebu Pacific flight 5J 760.at around 5:51 a.m. Wednesday, December 18.

According to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor),  Veloso’s flight departed Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 12:05 a.m..

Upon arrival at the NAIA, she was immediately brought to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, where she will be mandatorily housed at the Reception and Diagnostic Center for 5-day quarantine and a 55-day orientation, diagnostic evaluation and initial security classification.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Veloso, during the flight, was not in a handcuff.

Catapang said that under the rules of general application of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners as adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, such instrument must not be applied for any longer time than is strictly necessary.

The BuCor chief said Veloso’s return can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of various government agencies under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..

Veloso was jailed in 2010 and was sentenced to death in the same year after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her suitcase but she has always maintained her innocence, saying that she was tricked by her recruiters into becoming a drug mule.

She was given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015 when Manila informed Jakarta that her recruiters surrendered.

In a media interview at the NAIA arrival area, Mary Jane’s mother, Celia reiterated her appeal to President Marcos to grant her daughter clemency.

“Tama na po ‘yung mag-15 years na s’ya sa kulungan na wala naman sya kasalanan, alam naman na biktima lang sya at nahatulan na rin ‘yung may-ari ng nahuli sa kanya na heroin. Sana naman ibigay na sa kanya ang clemency at pardon kay Mary Jane at nang makapiling na namin,” her  mother said.

Veloso earlier thanked President Marcos Jr. and Indonesian President Prabowo, as well as all those who facilitated her transfer to Manila. 

Veloso’s parents Cesar and Celia and her sons Mark Daniel and Mark Darren were not able to come near her at the NAIA following her arrival from Indonesia due to strict security protocol.

She was immediately escorted to a vehicle and brought to CIW, where the family finally reunited.

Veloso’s sons were allowed to approach and finally hug their mother.

Meanwhile, Department of Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez explained the tight security for Veloso.

“We cannot discount the threat (from drug syndicates) kaya we make sure very strict ang security protocol but she’s okay, wala s’ya problema. Pinayagan na s’ya na makaharap ang media. Dinala namin media sa mismo detention area. Dun din nagyapakan  magpamilya. Dun na sila nagbonding,”  Vasquez told a television interview.

The DOJ official also said they instructed Catapang to ensure the safety of Veloso in jail.

“Dinirekta namin si Director General Catapang na siguruhin safe si Mary Jane at ‘wag isama kay Ser gio na naconvict ng court,” Vasquez said.

Maria Kristina Sergio, one of the two people who booked Veloso for a job in Indonesia, was found guilty by the Nueva Ecija court for large-scale illegal recruitment  and was sentenced to life imprisonment. She is also detained at the CIW.

Vasquez added that the Indonesian government had no condition for Veloso’s release to Philippine authorities.

“Walang hinihinging kondisyon ang Indonesia. Ako mismo ang pumirma ng agreement. Ang kondisyon lang  ay reciprocity na kung pagdating ng panahon maghingi sila ng request, titimbangin namin ‘yung ginawa nila sa pamilya ni Mary Jane,” Vasquez added.