Mary Jane Veloso, together with her family and supporters, attends a thanksgiving Mass at the Siena College Chapel in Quezon City on Saturday, September 26, 2026, following her release from detention after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted her an absolute pardon. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA - Mary Jane Veloso spent her first full day with her family after her release from nearly 17 years of imprisonment.
Veloso, who was granted an absolute pardon by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was reunited with her family after she was repatriated to the Philippines from Indonesia in December 2024.
During a thanksgiving Mass in Quezon City on Saturday, Veloso was seen leaning on her father, Cesar, as she attended church with her loved ones.
It was also her first time in 16 years to attend Mass with her family without handcuffs or prison bars separating them.
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For Veloso, her freedom is a gift and a second chance at life.
In 2015, her execution in Indonesia was halted after Indonesian authorities postponed her death sentence while the case against her alleged illegal recruiter was being heard.
“Kayo lang talaga God ang nakakaalam kung may kasalanan po ako o wala. Sabi ko kay God, patunayan mo sa buong mundo na wala akong kasalanan. Iniligtas niya ako. Hindi ako na firing squad. Hindi ako na-death row no’ng time na ‘yon. Pero kung iisipin mo 20 minutes na lang po ‘yon. Kung iisipin, imposible.”
Throughout her nearly 17 years in detention, Veloso said her family remained her strongest source of support.
“Kulang 17 years na naging laban ko sa buhay. Marami po akong natutunan. Marami pong nangyari sa buhay ko, nalayo ako sa mga anak ko. Di ko sila nakitang lumaki. Pero hindi po ako iniwan ng pamilya ko. ‘Yon po ang pinagpapasalamat ko sa Diyos dahil nandiyan silang laging sumusuporta sa akin lalo na kay nanay at tatay na alam ko ang hirap ng ginawa nila,” Veloso said during a press conference.
After 17 years, Mary Jane Veloso reunites with her family
Her parents, Celia and Cesar, said they held on to prayer even during the years when they feared they might never see their daughter free.
Celia recalled how Veloso herself gave them strength whenever they visited her in Indonesia and later in the Philippines.
“Tuwing dadalaw po kami kay Mary Jane sa Indonesa noon at kulungan dito, siya po ang nagbibigay ng lakas sa amin. Sabi ko, siguro ipinanganak ko si Mary Jane na sa Indonesia tumira. Sabi ko, Panginoon, ikaw na lang bahala sa anak ko. Alagaan mo siya,” Celia said.
Cesar, meanwhile, recalled the moment he told his daughter that their long-awaited dream of bringing her home had finally come true.
“No’ng nakasakay kami sa van, doon ko na siya nasabihan na ito na. Nagbunga na ang pangarap namin. Pagdating mo sa Nueva Ecija, itulog mo anak. Bawiin mo ‘yong pagpuyat mo,” he said.
But while Veloso has regained her freedom, she cannot recover the years she missed watching her two children grow up.
Her youngest son, Mark Darren, was just over a year old when she was imprisoned in Indonesia. He is now 17.
Mary Jane Veloso released from prison after Marcos pardon
“Tinuruan n’yo po kaming maging mapagmahal, mapang-unawa lakas ng loob. Kaya nagpapasalamat po ako na naging mama po kita kahit di po kita nakasama. Malaking bagay po ito kasi kasama ka po namin sa birthday namin, Pasko, Bagong Taon,” Darren said.
Her eldest son, Mark Danielle, was seven when he was separated from his mother. He also expressed his joy at finally having Veloso home.
“Hindi mo man kami nasamahan sa paglaki namin pero ‘yong tinuro n’yo po sa amin na gumalang sa kapwa at tinuro n’yo po sa amin na maging mabait na bata, dinadala po namin ‘yan hanggang paglaki po namin. Nagpapasalamat po ako na ikaw po naging nanay ko. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo. Proud na proud po ako na kayo po naging nanay ko,” Mark Danielle said.
While detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, Veloso pursued her studies under the Bureau of Corrections' education and training program with fellow inmates.
A poem she had written about the Filipino language, which she had originally intended to recite inside prison, was instead performed in front of her family.
She also dedicated the song “Maghintay Ka Lamang” to her loved ones and to the organizations that continued to support her campaign for freedom.
Marcos grants Mary Jane Veloso absolute pardon
Atty. Josa Deinla of the National Union of People's Lawyers, one of the groups that supported Veloso, said her story showed courage and perseverance.
“Gusto kong ipakita ‘yong aming paghanga kay Mary Jane kasi siya ‘yong ehemplo ng isang taong napakatapang. Hindi nawalan ng pag-asa. Isang malaking karangalan sa aming people’s lawyers na maging bahagi ng mahalagang laban na ito,” Deinla said.
Despite her freedom, Veloso expressed hope that she would still hear the truth from the recruiters she said led her into the ordeal.
“Tama na po ang pagsisinungaling po. Sabihin n’yo na ang katotohanan na wala talaga akong kasalanan. Alam ko po na nalinis ko na ang pangalan ko dahil sa absolute pardon ni President pero iba pa rin po ang pakiramdam pag mismo sa kanila nanggaling,” Veloso added.
Veloso was only 25 when she was imprisoned after traveling abroad in search of a better life for her family.
Now in her 40s, she said what matters most is cherishing every moment she has with her loved ones.