President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING/ PPA POOL
MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Wednesday lauded the return of Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Indonesian death row for drug trafficking, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s diplomatic tack was also cited.
Marcos Jr. on Wednesday announced that Veloso will be back in the country after 14 years behind bars.
Senator Raffy Tulfo, who heads the Senate committee on migrant workers, cited Marcos’ fostering strong diplomatic ties with Indonesia with this development.
“I commend President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for his successful diplomatic efforts that paved the way for the impending return of Filipina domestic worker Mary Jane Veloso,” Tulfo said in a statement.
“Mary Jane is indeed coming home,” he added.
READ: Mary Jane Veloso’s ma fears for daughter’s life once back in PH
Veloso, who always maintained her innocence, was arrested at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin.
“Mary Jane is a victim of circumstance, having been deceived by unscrupulous individuals who exploited her vulnerability and unwittingly used her as a courier in their illegal schemes,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada in a statement.
Noting that he case deserves a thorough review, Estrada enjoined the Department of Justice to consider her status as a victim of human trafficking and involvement in drug syndicates.
“They should explore options for clemency or commutation of her sentence, recognizing her as a victim rather than a criminal,” Estrada also said.
Senate President Francis Escudero also thanked Marcos as well as expressing gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and to his entire government for its “compassion.”
“Mary Jane has spent over a third of her life in prison and every day of those 14 years not knowing if it will be her last,” Escudero said. “We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane back to the Philippines.”
Veloso’s mom, Celia, earlier said her daughter may not be safe in the Philippines because she is running “against an international syndicate.”
In view of this, Escudero said: “We call on the authorities concerned to ensure the safety of Mary Jane upon her return to the Philippines and to reach out to her family and allay whatever fears or concerns they may have about her transfer.
Senator Grace Poe also lauded the “mutual effort” of Manila and Jakarta to negotiate Veloso’s return to the country.
But Poe said the government should enact programs to avoid such incidents.
Senator Joel Villanueva also thanked Marcos for his efforts to bring Veloso back to the country.
However, Villanueva, citing the data from the Department of Migrant Workers, noted in a statement that 44 OFWs are currently on death row, and he called on the government “to continue their diligent efforts and diplomatic initiatives in safeguarding the rights and well-being of our kababayans abroad, especially those currently on death row.”
For the Senate’s part, both Poe and Villanueva noted that the upper chamber earmarked P1.3 billion for the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan or Aksyon fund to provide legal, medical, and financial assistance to the OFWs.
“We must see to it that no Filipino migrant worker falls victim to yet another death sentence,” Poe said in a statement.