SUMMARY
- Mary Jane Veloso clemency appeal draws renewed attention after public letter
- Palace stresses proper procedure for presidential consideration
- Case underscores long running diplomatic coordination with Indonesia
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine Palace official said detained overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso should personally convey her plea for clemency to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following a renewed appeal highlighting her family’s hardship and continued claim of innocence.
The Mary Jane Veloso clemency appeal resurfaced this week after a senior communications official said a direct appeal to the president would allow formal review, as Veloso remains detained while serving a sentence transferred from Indonesia.
Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta in two thousand ten after authorities found more than two point six kilograms of heroin in her luggage.
An Indonesian court sentenced her to death, a ruling that sparked years of diplomatic engagement by Manila. In two thousand fifteen, then President Benigno Aquino III secured a reprieve, citing Veloso’s potential testimony against trafficking syndicates.
In December two thousand twenty four, the Philippines and Indonesia signed a transfer agreement allowing her to serve the remainder of her sentence at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said a letter addressed directly to Marcos would enable “a proper decision,” according to a Palace briefing.
Former Philippine ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong T. Wee said the clemency process depends on executive discretion and bilateral understandings.
University of the Philippines political analyst Clarissa David noted the case remains sensitive given Indonesia’s strict narcotics laws and public expectations of due process.
In her letter released Jan. twenty eight, Veloso described her parents’ repeated travel from Nueva Ecija and reaffirmed her innocence.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government continues to provide legal and consular assistance within existing agreements.
Any clemency decision would follow established presidential processes and consultations with Indonesian authorities, officials said.
The Mary Jane Veloso clemency appeal highlights enduring legal, humanitarian and diplomatic dimensions that continue to shape Philippine engagement on capital punishment cases abroad.
NOTE! This article was generated with the support of AI and compiled by professionals from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage. For more information, please see our T&C.
