A petition for habeas corpus on Friday was filed before the Supreme Court (SC) by relatives and supporters of Mary Jane Veloso.
In the petition signed by her family and legal counsel from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), they claim that Mary Jane’s detention is illegal, considering that she was not charged under Philippine law.
Veloso has been detained at the Correctional Institute for Women since returning to the country from Indonesia.
“There is neither legal nor political basis for Mary Jane’s continued detention in the Philippines. She does not deserve to suffer behind bars, not only because she is not a criminal under our legal system, but because Mary Jane is a victim of trafficking,” said Joanna Concepcion, chairperson of Migrante International.
Earlier, Mary Jane’s relatives requested President Bongbong Marcos to grant her an executive clemency before Christmas.
“The Indonesian government has long ago passed on to him the responsibility of clemency, yet after her transfer, nothing has come beyond vague promises to review her case,” Concepcion added.
In 2010, Veloso was arrested after being caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin inside a suitcase sent to her by her recruiters, Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao.
