By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the absolute pardon of Mary Jane Veloso, ending her long wait for executive clemency after years of imprisonment stemming from her drug trafficking conviction in Indonesia.
Marcos confirmed Friday that he signed the pardon on September 24, 2026, putting to rest questions over whether the government would grant Veloso the requested clemency.
“Pinirmahan ko na ‘yung pardon niya kahapon,” Marcos said during an interview in Eastern Samar.
The President’s confirmation came shortly after Malacañang disclosed that Veloso’s request for an absolute pardon was under serious consideration on humanitarian grounds.
Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage. She was later convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death.
Veloso has maintained that she was a victim of human trafficking and that she was deceived into transporting the suitcase containing the illegal drugs.
Her execution was halted in 2015 after the Philippine government appealed to Indonesian authorities to spare her life so she could testify against the individuals she identified as her alleged recruiters.
After nearly 15 years in Indonesian custody, Veloso returned to the Philippines in December 2024 following an agreement between the Philippine and Indonesian governments.
She was subsequently placed under the custody of Philippine authorities while her legal status and possible executive clemency were being addressed.
The signing of the absolute pardon now moves Veloso’s case into the implementation stage, with the concerned government agencies expected to complete the necessary procedures arising from the President’s clemency order.
The case has remained a major public concern because of Veloso’s lengthy imprisonment, her claim that she was victimized by human traffickers, and the years of diplomatic and legal efforts surrounding her case.
With Marcos’ signature, the long-pending request for absolute pardon has been formally granted.
ia/xf
