Mary Jane Veloso expressed mixed emotions as she reunited with her family after 14 years of incarceration in Indonesia.
“I can’t explain how happy I am. I’m so grateful to be back in our country,” said Veloso, who has been on death row since 2010 for a drug trafficking case she insists was fabricated.
Veloso arrived in the Philippines at 5:30 am on Tuesday, accompanied by government officials. She was immediately transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women to continue legal proceedings against the recruiter who allegedly planted 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage.
She made a heartfelt plea to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant her clemency. “I just want to be with my family. I’ve been in prison for 15 years for something I didn’t do,” Veloso said.
The government assured Veloso’s safety, especially after her family revealed receiving threats from syndicates allegedly involved in framing her.
The Bureau of Corrections also allowed Veloso’s family to spend Christmas with her, offering a brief respite and an opportunity to heal after years of separation. Meanwhile, Veloso vowed to continue her fight for justice against those who victimized her.