Clemency for Mary Jane Veloso still subject to review – Marcos

Mary Jane Veloso upon arrival  at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, for a five-day quarantine. Veloso returned to the Philippines after more than 14 years on death row in Indonesia.  (INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Granting clemency to Mary Jane Veloso, who returned to the Philippines after almost 15 years on death row in Indonesia, still needs to be assessed by legal experts, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos said on Thursday.

In an ambush interview in Pasay City on Thursday, Marcos was asked if Veloso would be granted clemency.

“Malayo pa tayo run. (We are still far from it). We still have to have a look at really what her status is,” Marcos said.

“We will leave it to the legal judgment of our legal experts to determine whether the provision of clemency is appropriate,” he added.

Veloso, convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia, arrived in Manila  Wednesday morning.

In a short interview with members of the media, Veloso said she is very happy to return to the Philippines.

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

Veloso maintained that she was unaware of the contents of the luggage as it was only handed over to her by her recruiters, identified as Julius Lacanilao and Maria Cristina Sergio.