MANILA – The Indonesian government is open to the possible granting of clemency to Mary Jane Veloso once she returns to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said Manila and Jakarta will iron out the details of the agreement on Veloso’s transfer.
Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that Veloso is “coming home” after Indonesia agreed to the request to transfer her to the Philippines.
Veloso was arrested in 2010 after Indonesian authorities found 2.6 kg. of heroin in her suitcase. She was put to the death row but was given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015 when the Philippine government informed Indonesia that her recruiters had surrendered.
According to De Vega, the two sides will hammer out the legal intricacies of the case, including which President may grant her clemency.
He, however, noted that the Indonesian side has shown “indications” to the possibility of granting Veloso a clemency by President Prabowo Subianto.
“That will be discussed. But in the talks with Ambassador (Gina) Jamoralin, they were open to the possible eventual granting of clemency by their own President,” De Vega said in a Palace press briefing.
“There are two options: we will request once she’s here for the official release from detention from the Indonesia criminal procedure system or another one, they will allow our President to issue a clemency on the basis that she’s been in detention for so many years,” he added.
“That is certainly possible but it will be certainly a President issuing clemency,” he went on.
The timeline for Veloso’s awaited homecoming has yet to be made clear.
Nonetheless, the DFA, along with the Department of Justice (DOJ), vowed to work on her transfer as soon as possible.
De Vega noted that the Philippines will respect and honor Indonesia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the case.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to pick up Veloso upon her return to the country, DOJ Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Mico Clavano said in the same press briefing in Malacañang.
He added that they are looking for possible detention facilities for Veloso, including the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong. (PNA)