Mary Jane Veloso reunites with her family after arriving at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong on December 18, 2024.
MANILA — Mary Jane Veloso’s family is looking forward to a new life together after she was granted absolute pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her father said Friday.
Cesar Veloso, who said he has been ill, said the family was overjoyed upon learning that Marcos had signed the pardon.
“Talaga pong masayang-masaya. ‘Yan po talaga ang pinakahinihintay namin, ang mapirmahan ng ating Pangulo ang paglaya ng aking anak, ‘yan po talaga ang hinihintay po namin, mula po noon hanggang ngayon,” he said.
TIMELINE: Mary Jane Veloso's decade-long ordeal from Indonesian death row to absolute pardon
He said Mary Jane’s two children plan to make their mother happy when she comes home and make up for the moments they missed.
“Pasasayahin daw po nila ang kanilang mama ‘pag dumating. ‘Yung hindi nila nagawa noon, gagawin nila ngayon,” he said.
The family has yet to receive a direct communication from the government regarding the development, with their lawyers the ones who relayed the news to them.
He said the family hopes to personally welcome Mary Jane when she is released.
“Mas maganda kung kami lahat ng pamilya niya, sasalubong kami sa kanya, lalong mas masaya po,” he said.
‘LALAYA RIN AKO’
Cesar said their family never lost hope, especially after Mary Jane was transferred to Philippine custody in December 2024.
He recounted how Mary Jane herself urged them to keep praying.
“‘Huwag po kayong maghihina, huwag po kayong… basta manalangin lang po kayo sa Panginoon, lalaya at lalaya din ako tatay. Huwag niyong pababayaan ang sarili ninyo,’” he recalled Mary Jane telling him.
“Kaya nang buhat po nung napunta sa tulungan po dito sa atin, talaga po hindi po kami bumigay, talagang nilabanan po namin lahat ng sakit po namin para sa kaniya lang po,” he said.
But her father said Mary Jane has also been concerned about his health. He said he has been taking insulin since June.
Veloso’s father thanked Marcos for granting the pardon.
“Nagpapasalamat kami ng marami dahil siya tagal ng panahon na talagang hinihingi po namin sa ating mahal na Pangulo ang absolute pardon na ‘yan. Kaya sa awa ng Diyos po napirmahan na rin ng ating Pangulo kaya malaki ang pasasalamat po namin sa kaniya,” he said.
Marcos signed Veloso’s absolute pardon on Sept. 24, 2026, after Malacanang said earlier that he was “seriously considering” the move on humanitarian grounds.
Veloso was transferred to Philippine custody in December 2024 after spending years detained in Indonesia, where she was sentenced to death for a drug trafficking conviction.
Her scheduled 2015 execution by firing squad was stayed at the last minute after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested on human trafficking charges and Veloso was named as a prosecution witness.
Veloso's legal team said it expects her release soon, pending completion of the necessary procedures.
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