Indonesia Entrusts Mary Jane Veloso’s Future to President Marcos
MARY JANE VELOSO – Indonesia has announced that the decision regarding Mary Jane Veloso’s fate now rests entirely in the hands of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Indonesia has affirmed its full respect for whatever decision President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes regarding clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipino overseas worker who narrowly escaped execution on drug trafficking charges. Indonesian Chief Minister for Law and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced that Veloso would be transferred to the Philippines following Manila’s request for pardon. In a video statement on Wednesday, Mahendra outlined the Indonesian government’s unprecedented policy shift.
“We created a new policy that we had never done before. Not to release or give pardon to foreigners convicted by our court but instead we created a policy that is called transfer of prisoners,” he said.
The minister explained that this transfer is conditional upon the requesting country acknowledging and respecting the verdict issued by the Indonesian court. He emphasized that the verdict, whether imprisonment, a life sentence, or the death penalty, must be accepted and not questioned.
“So for example, that is the case, then she (Veloso) will serve a life sentence in the Philippines instead based on the verdict of the Indonesian court. And we will fully respect the decision by the authority of President Marcos in enforcing their law in their country,” Mahendra clarified.
Veloso’s transfer is expected to allow the Philippines greater jurisdiction over her case. With the Philippines having abolished the death penalty, Mahendra noted that the decision to grant Veloso clemency would fall under the discretion of President Marcos.
“The Philippines had abolished the death penalty in their law system, and when she (Veloso) had returned to the Philippines, it will be the authority of the President (Marcos) to give pardon (from the Indonesian death penalty sentence),” he added.
Mary Jane Veloso’s case has garnered international attention as a significant legal and diplomatic milestone, underscoring Indonesia’s evolving policies on foreign convicts and the Philippines’ efforts to secure her return. Her eventual transfer and the resolution of her sentence will reflect both nations’ shared commitment to justice and mutual respect for their legal frameworks.
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