Indonesia is considering transferring Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino death-row inmate, to a prison in the Philippines. Veloso has been imprisoned in Jakarta after she was arrested and eventually convicted on drug trafficking charges in 2010.
The announcement came following a meeting last Monday in Jakarta between Philippine Ambassador Gina Alagon Jamoralin and Indonesian Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra at Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction (Kemenko Kumham Imipas).
“Indonesia respects the request from the Philippine government to consider the transfer of Mary Jane Veloso in the interest of law enforcement in the Philippines. However, the Philippine Government is obligated to acknowledge and respect the legal process regarding Mary Jane, including the verdict issued by the Indonesian court,” the Indon official said in a statement.
Minister Mahendra proposed two possible approaches for facilitating the transfer: direct bilateral negotiations between Jakarta and Manila, or the development of a comprehensive policy framework in Indonesia for prisoner transfers.
The proposal has already been brought to the attention of President Prabowo Subianto, according to Mahendra.
“Our nation’s sovereignty in prosecuting crimes committed by foreign nationals must be fully respected. However, if a foreign national prisoner has been returned to their home country, the responsibility for their rehabilitation rests with that country, including decisions on whether to grant remission or clemency, all of these decisions are handed over to the respective country,” he said.
Once Veloso is transferred, the minister said, she will have to continue serving her remaining sentence in the Philippines “subject to the conditions determined by the Indonesian court’s ruling.”
“The Philippines is also expected to recognize this decision and enforce the sentence as determined in Indonesia. This policy serves as part of a reciprocal cooperation between the two countries to respect and strengthen international law enforcement,” the statement said.
In January this year, the Indonesian government then under President Joko Widodo had committed to reexamine the case of Veloso in a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Jokowi was then on an official visit to Manila. At that time, Veloso’s family had written letters to both Presidents appealing for clemency for Veloso.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Indonesia may allow Veloso to serve rest of sentence in the Philippines.”
