By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — The Indonesian government has recognized the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant an absolute pardon to Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, following the Filipino worker’s transfer from Indonesian to Philippine custody.
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Affairs, said Jakarta respects the Philippine president’s decision concerning Veloso.
In a statement provided to the Philippine government, Yusril said Indonesian authorities were aware of the pardon and had been monitoring developments involving the long-running case.
He noted that the Philippines assumed responsibility for Veloso’s rehabilitation when she was repatriated in December 2024 under the prisoner transfer arrangement between Manila and Jakarta.
According to Yusril, the agreement makes the transfer of responsibility reciprocal. Once a prisoner is returned to his or her home country, the receiving government becomes responsible for rehabilitation and other legal matters, including possible clemency or release, subject to its domestic laws.
Yusril said Indonesia therefore has no objection to the Philippine government exercising its authority over Veloso’s case.
He also cited the reverse situation covered by the agreement. If an Indonesian prisoner held in the Philippines were transferred to Indonesia, responsibility for that inmate would similarly pass to the Indonesian government.
In such a case, Yusril said, the Indonesian president could exercise clemency or order the release of an inmate serving a life sentence, provided the action is allowed under Indonesian law.
The statement underscores the two countries’ understanding of their reciprocal prisoner-transfer arrangement and the legal authority of the receiving government after repatriation.ia/xf
