THE Office of the President is “seriously considering” granting absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, the former overseas Filipino worker who has spent nearly 16 years in detention, Representative Albert “Abet” Garcia confirmed Tuesday night during House budget deliberations.
Garcia, who is sponsoring the proposed budget of the Office of the President, made the disclosure in response to queries from Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, stating the action would be extended on humanitarian grounds and in keeping with the government’s commitment to the welfare of Filipino migrant workers. “There will be an announcement in a few days,” Garcia added, as Executive Secretary Ralph Recto stood beside him during the exchange.
Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro formally confirmed the development on Wednesday, noting that the review process is underway and that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has received Veloso’s letter appealing for relief. “From the start, it was mentioned that Mary Jane Veloso is allegedly innocent. So we can start there,” Castro said, emphasizing that the case is being evaluated on its merits. She clarified that the President is not required to coordinate with the Indonesian government should the pardon be granted, though she declined to share further details, saying the decision rests solely with the President.
Veloso’s long legal journey began in April 2010 when she was arrested in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her possession. Convicted and sentenced to death in October of that same year, she maintained that she was unwittingly used as a drug mule and had no knowledge of the contraband. Her sentence was commuted in 2015 following an intense diplomatic appeal by the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III, and she was later transferred to custody in the Philippines, where she has remained detained on related charges.
For more than a decade, Veloso’s case has drawn widespread public sympathy and advocacy, with supporters highlighting her status as a victim of exploitation and the prolonged separation from her family. The possibility of pardon has rekindled hope that her ordeal may finally be nearing an end. As the Palace finalizes its review, the public awaits the President’s official announcement, which could bring closure to one of the country’s most widely discussed migrant worker cases.
metrosundaily
