Renewed calls for the Philippine government to press for Mary Jane Veloso’s clemency have emerged after Indonesia inaugurated its new president, Prabowo Subianto, last week. Veloso has been imprisoned since 2010 after being deceived into carrying illegal drugs in Indonesia.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attended the inauguration on October 20, which Veloso’s legal team sees as an opportunity for the Philippine government to seek her release on humanitarian grounds.
Edre Olalia, one of Veloso’s lawyers, urged Marcos to make a direct appeal to Indonesia’s new leadership. Olalia emphasized in a PhilStar report that Veloso, a victim of human trafficking, has been jailed for over a decade and deserves to return home.
The case against Veloso’s recruiters, who were found guilty of illegal recruitment in the Philippines, has seen slow progress. Human rights groups, including Migrante International, are calling for more urgency from the Philippine government to secure Veloso’s freedom.
Veloso’s 2015 execution was postponed after an appeal by then-President Benigno Aquino III. However, the Indonesian government has since denied her legal plea, leaving hope for clemency based on humanitarian reasons.
