DOJ on clemency for Mary Jane Veloso: ‘Why not?’

TURNOVER Mary Jane Veloso officially becomes an inmate at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, after the media frenzy
that marked her transfer from an Indonesian jail after more than 14 years. (PHOTO FROM BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it sees no issue in granting clemency to Mary Jane Veloso, who spent almost 15 years on death row in Indonesia, but that the decision rests solely on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the DOJ is among the bodies that can recommend to Marcos what to do next in Veloso’s case.

“Everybody is clamoring for it, and there are other people who are equally entitled; why not? If you ask me personally, pero nasa ating Pangulo ‘yan (but that depends on the President),” said Vasquez when asked if the DOJ will recommend to Marcos that Veloso be granted clemency.

“‘Yan naman pag-uusapan ng maigi at lahat na sinabi ng ating Pangulo na it’s on the table, everything is on the table,” he added, also stating that apart from Veloso, there are other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) already set to be granted clemency.

(That will be discussed thoroughly and like what our President said, everything is on the table.)

When asked if it will send the wrong message to Indonesia if Veloso is granted executive clemency, Vasquez responded in the negative.

“Hindi rin naman siguro, dahil sila mismo naglagay doon eh, na the moment na andito na sa’tin, si Mary Jane Veloso being a PDL, will be subjected to all rights and privileges in accordance with Philippine laws,” he said.

(I don’t think so, because they put her here themselves, that the moment she is here, Mary Jane Veloso being a PDL, will be subjected to all rights and privileges in accordance with Philippine laws.)

Meanwhile, Vasquez said that while Veloso is detained at the Correctional Institution for Women, no special treatment will be granted to her—but the DOJ official assured the public that the Bureau of Corrections has been ordered to ensure her safety and welfare.

Veloso was arrested in 2010 at the Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

She was sentenced to death but was spared in 2015 after Philippine officials asked then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo to allow her to testify against members of a human and drug-smuggling syndicate in Manila.