Mary Jane Veloso (R) listens to court interpreter at a court in Sleman in central Java island during a hearing of judicial review on March 3, 2015 after a plea for clemency was rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Suryo Wibowo, AFP Photo/File
MANILA (UPDATE) — On Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso was granted absolute pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over a year since her "miracle" homecoming from a decade-long ordeal in Indonesian death row.
Mary Jane Veloso arrives in PH after 14-year imprisonment in Indonesia
Mary Jane Veloso says planned transfer to PH a 'miracle'
While many Filipinos only learned about Veloso's case in 2015 shortly before her scheduled execution and the extraordinary last-minute reprieve granted by the Indonesian government, the OFW's legal ordeal, and the diplomatic complications attached to it, started years earlier and dragged on for over a decade, spanning 4 Philippine presidents.
• 2010
Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso is escorted by Indonesian police as she arrives at the court in Sleman in central Java island for a hearing of judicial review on March 3, 2015 after a plea for clemency was rejected by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Suryo, Wibowo, AFP Photo/File
Veloso was apprehended by customs officials at the Audisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on April 25, 2010, according to a timeline by Migrante International and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), which served as one of Veloso's legal counsels.
Prior to her apprehension in Indonesia, Veloso was with her godsister and recruiter Ma. Kristina "Tintin" Sergio in Malaysia, where a job was supposedly waiting for them. When the alleged job suddenly became unavailable, Sergio sent Veloso to Indonesia, along with a bag that concealed 2.6 kilograms of heroin, allegedly without Veloso's knowledge.
On May 12, Veloso finally informed her family that she was in jail in Indonesia.
It was only in August that Veloso's family sought the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and informed the government agency about her ordeal in Indonesia.
In October, Veloso's prosecution in Indonesia started to move. She was represented by a court-appointed pro bono lawyer said to be recommended by the Indonesian police.
On Oct. 11, the District Court of Justice of Sleman in Yogyakarta sentenced Veloso with the death penalty. In the same month, the Philippine government finally hired a private law firm in Indonesia to appeal Veloso's case.
• 2011
In February 2011, the Court of Appeals of Yogyakarta upheld Veloso's death sentence. The Philippine-hired lawyer then filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Indonesia to reverse the ruling.
After 3 months, on May 31, 2011, the Indonesian Supreme Court affirmed Veloso's death penalty.
In August, President Benigno Aquino III asked then-Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono for clemency for Veloso. Yudhyono imposed a moratorium on executions during his term.
There was no significant movement in the case from 2012 until late 2014.
• 2014
In October 2014, then Indonesian President Joko Widodo rejected all requests for clemency for convicts sentenced to death.
• 2015
In this photo made available on April 28, 2016, a protester holds a placard during a rally calling for a reprieve on Mary Jane Veloso's execution at the Indonesian Embassy in Makati City on April 28, 2015. Richard James M. Mendoza, ABS-CBN News/File
In February, Migrante International confirmed with its Indonesian counterparts that a certain "Mary Jane" was put on the death row after Veloso informed her family that she was set to be executed soon.
On February 9, Aquino reportedly appealed Veloso’s case during the state visit of President Widodo to the Philippines.
On April 24, Veloso was transferred from her the Yogyakarta prison to Nusakumbangan Island ahead of her looming execution by firing squad.
Aquino reportedly had a 5-minute side meeting with Widodo at the ASEAN conference in Malaysia on April 28. Aquino also reportedly talked to the Indonesian foreign minister to spare Veloso, whom he said could become a witness to help Indonesia uncover the drug syndicates in the region. This, after Sergio, Veloso's alleged recruiter who gave her the tampered suitcase, surrendered to Philippine authorities that morning.
On the same night, Indonesian officials announced that the execution of Veloso and 8 others will proceed. Amid protests and vigil to "Save Mary Jane Veloso," the DFA said it had done everything for the OFW.
Saved from death row, Mary Jane Veloso 'elated'
Early morning of April 29, Indonesian reports claimed that Veloso was spared from the firing squad. It was later confirmed that her execution was postponed d to give way for the case against her illegal recruiter.
• 2016
President Rodrigo Duterte, known for his hardline stance on illegal drugs, reportedly gave the Indonesian government the green light to proceed with Veloso's execution.
Duterte mum on Mary Jane Veloso case
Duterte was quoted as saying that he will "respect the decision" of Widodo regarding the fate of Veloso.
The DFA leadership at that time also said that Veloso's case was "not urgent."
• 2020
A court in Nueva Ecija convicted Veloso's alleged recruiters Sergio and Julius Lacanilao of large-scale illegal recruitment, sentencing them to life imprisonment and a fine of P2 million.
• 2024
Mary Jane Veloso poses for a photograph at Yogyakarta Womens Correctional Institution Class IIB in Wonosari, Yogyakarta on December 13, 2024. She says her planned transfer was a "miracle", in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last week to repatriate her. Photo by Devi Rahman, AFP
On October 20, 2024, new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto took office.
In an unexpected development, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that Veloso "will soon return to the country" as he acknowledged the diplomacy work of the previous administrations that managed to suspend the OFW's execution.
“After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her execution long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” Marcos said in a statement on Nov. 20.
Mary Jane Veloso ready to start new life as she leaves Indonesia
On December 17, on the eve of her return to the Philippines, Veloso in a press conference in Jakarta thanked God and the Indonesian government for her repatriation.
"I thank God. Finally all my prayers were answered today and I will come back to my country. I believe that God has plans for me," a tearful Veloso said.
Mary Jane Veloso reunites with her family after arriving at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong on December 18, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
Veloso was arrested in Indonesia when she was 25. She will turn 40 in less than a month. She asked Marcos for clemency, insisting that she was innocent.
"Gusto ko na makalaya ako, clemency, mapawalang sala, kasi wala akong kasalanan," she said on Tuesday.
(I want freedom, I want clemency, because I am innocent.)
Mary Jane Veloso back in PH Wednesday, lawyer seeks Christmas pardon
Marcos earlier said that granting clemency to Veloso was "on the table" given the novelty of the agreement between Indonesia and Philippines.
On Wednesday, December 18, Veloso finally landed back in the Philippines and reunited with her family.
Veloso has been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women.
• 2025
Family members and supporters of Mary Jane Veloso stage a rally and noise barrage in support of her scheduled testimony, outside the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City on June 19, 2026. The group renews its call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant Veloso unconditional freedom, stressing that she is a victim of human trafficking and has spent years fighting for justice. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsFor most part of 2025, Veloso's family and her supporters organized and mobilized to call for executive clemency as well as the speedy resolution of her local cases.
'Parang awa niyo na': Veloso family, supporters renew call for Marcos clemency
Her mother Celia argued that the other prisoners released by Indonesia along with her daughter were repatriated and freed in their home countries.
“Lima silang pinalaya sa Indonesia, yung 4 balik sa bahay, bakit si Mary Jane sa kulungan siya dumiretso?” she said.
(Indonesia released five convicts. The four are already in their homes. How come Mary Jane was just brought to prison?)
Celia was citing the case of the five members of the Australian "Bali Nine" drug ring who were jailed for 19 years in Indonesia and are now back in their country without serving any more prison time.
Mary Jane Veloso's family asks Supreme Court to expedite court case in Nueva Ecija
In October 2025, Veloso's camp asked the Supreme Court to expedite her cases against her recruiters pending before the Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court Branch 89.
• 2026
Mary Jane Veloso reunites with her family after arriving at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong on December 18, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileDays before the official announcement, Malacañang on Sept. 23 said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was "considering" the grant of absolute pardon to Veloso.
Marcos ‘considering’ absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso – Palace
Asked if the Philippines needs to notify the Indonesian government before granting the pardon, Palace Press Officier Claire Castro said she was told it was not necessary.
On Friday, Marcos himself confirmed his decision.
“Pinirmahan ko na yung pardon niya kahapon,” Marcos said in a chance interview in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
An absolute pardon restores an individual's “civil and political rights” and extinguishes remaining penalties without conditions.
Veloso finally reunited with her family in the early hours of September 26, Saturday, walking free from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.
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