Mary Jane Veloso, the overseas Filipino worker who spent 14 years in a detention facility in Indonesia, finally arrived in Manila early Wednesday morning, marking a significant win for Philippine diplomacy.
Her return culminates an arduous legal battle for the Philippine government started by the late President Benigno Aquino III, who saved Veloso from imminent death in 2015, and completed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who now has the authority to grant her clemency.
Cebu Pacific Flight SJ 760 carrying Veloso landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 around 5:40 a.m. The flight departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 12:05 a.m., according to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
BuCor Director Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Veloso was not in handcuffs and she was neither subjected to any instrument of restraint, citing the standard minimum rules set by the United Nations for the treatment of prisoners.
“She has no plans to either escape or harm herself because she wants to go home to the Philippines, so why do we need the handcuffs? Instead of handcuffs, we should give her roses,” Catapang said in Tagalog in a press release.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega attributed this moment to the strong friendship between the Philippines and Indonesia. In a press conference held Tuesday evening in Jakarta, he thanked everyone involved from both countries in bringing Veloso home.
“The return or transfer of Mary Jane to the Philippines is a win for diplomacy, for good relations between the Philippines and Indonesia. And we thank the Indonesian Government and all those who are finally realizing the dearest hope and prayer of Mary Jane and the Veloso family,” De Vega said.
Officials from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the National Bureau of Immigration (NBI) joined the DFA in processing the repatriation of Veloso as part of the agreement between the Philippine and Indonesian governments.
“We will abide by the practical arrangement that we signed two weeks ago… We will comply. The Philippines is known to be championing the rule of law. So, to the people of Indonesia, you are true friends of the Philippines,” De Vega added.
Ahead of her return, Veloso thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, President Marcos, and everyone who helped make her transfer home possible after years of facing the death penalty.
From the airport Veloso was transported to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City where she will be mandatorily housed at the Reception and Diagnostic Center for a five-day quarantine and a 55-day orientation, diagnostic evaluation, and initial security classification.
Catapang assured the Veloso family that after the standard five-day quarantine period for new person deprived of liberty, they will be able to visit Mary Jane in time for Christmas.
“We assure the Filipino people that Ms. Veloso’s safety and welfare is paramount and our agencies in the justice and law enforcement sector shall continue to ensure it, as our Indonesian counterparts have safeguarded it for so long,” the DFA said in a statement on Wednesday.
