16 Years Later, Mary Jane Veloso Can Finally Walk Free

The 16-year-long ordeal of Mary Jane Veloso finally marks its end after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially granted her an absolute pardon. 

“Pinirmahan ko na ang pardon niya kahapon,” Marcos confirmed to the media, although no further details were shared. Two days before the announcement, Palace Communications Officer Claire Castro shared that the president was “seriously considering” the move based on humanitarian grounds. 

In April 2010, Veloso, a Filipina migrant worker, was arrested in Indonesia after the authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in the inner lining of her suitcase. Despite profusely maintaining her innocence, she was still convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death. Her execution was halted in 2015 after then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III secured a reprieve and informed Indonesian authorities that her alleged illegal recruiter had surrendered.

After spending years in Indonesian custody, Veloso was repatriated to the Philippines in December 2024 following an agreement between the Philippine and Indonesian governments. She continued serving her sentence at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.

Since returning to the country, Veloso and her supporters have repeatedly sought her executive clemency. In an open letter last January, she once again appealed for her release, citing her parents’ old age and their difficulty with travelling to meet her. 

“Nandito pa rin ako nakakulong kahit wala akong kasalanan at wala din po akong nagawang masama sa ating bansa,” she wrote.

Reyza Ferranco

State of Affairs Writer

Reyza Ferranco is the State of Affairs Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines. Her work encompasses politics, social issues, environment, and critical explainers.

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