Philippines pardons Mary Jane Veloso after decade of Indonesian imprisonment

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted a presidential pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino mother who had been imprisoned in Indonesia since 2010 on drug smuggling charges. Veloso, who was arrested after being tricked into transporting drugs, had previously faced execution in 2015 but was spared following an international advocacy campaign.

Following her repatriation to Manila in 2025, the pardon allows Veloso to be released. Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated that the Indonesian government respects the decision made by the Philippine President.

Mahendra noted that under a reciprocal agreement between Indonesia and the Philippines, the responsibility for Veloso’s rehabilitation and legal status was transferred to the Philippine government following her transfer on December 18, 2024. The agreement stipulates that once a prisoner is transferred to their home country, the responsibility for their care and legal proceedings shifts to that nation.