Mary Jane Veloso Is Free: Who She Is and What Her Pardon Means for Others

Mary Jane Veloso, a 30-year-old mother of two, sought employment as a domestic helper in Indonesia when she was arrested in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kg of heroin in her luggage. Despite maintaining her innocence, Veloso was sentenced to death by a Sleman District Court in October 2010. After enduring years of diplomatic efforts between Indonesia and the Philippines, Veloso was repatriated to the Philippines in December 2024 and was transferred to a Philippine prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.

In April 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted Mary Jane Veloso an absolute pardon, freeing her from her life sentence. This pardon was granted on humanitarian grounds, as declared by the President during his visit to Eastern Visayas. Veloso's case gained international attention in 2015 when she was due to be executed alongside eight others convicted of drug crimes. However, she was spared from execution after her alleged human traffickers turned themselves in to Philippine authorities.

Veloso's pardon has been welcomed by Indonesian migrant advocacy group Beranda Migran, who attribute the decision to the long-term efforts of Veloso, her family, migrant workers organizations, women's groups, activists, and international solidarity networks. Despite the pardon, Beranda Migran emphasizes that the fight for Veloso's full release continues, as the legal process against her traffickers must still be addressed to ensure her safety as a victim.

The case highlights the need for ongoing support for migrant workers facing criminalization, detention, exploitation, and death row sentences in Indonesia, the Philippines, and other countries.