BALER: The Indonesian government is eyeing to initiate the process of transfer of Mary Jane Veloso to a Philippine prison in December 2024, its Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction said.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ministry stated that Indonesia will carry out the transfer process once the conditions it set for the Philippine government are met. The Coordinating Minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, estimated that the transfer process for Mary Jane will take place in December 2024. Apart from the Philippines, Australia and France have also proposed transferring the prisoner.

The conditions include Veloso serving the remainder of her sentence in the country, Manila’s recognition of the Indonesian court’s final decision on her case, and the Philippine government agreeing to shoulder the cost of her return. Upon her transfer, a decision on whether to grant remission or pardon would rest with the head of state. “In the case of Mary Jane, who was sentenced to death i
n Indonesia, it is possible that President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos Jr. will grant pardon and change her sentence to life imprisonment, considering that the death penalty has been abolished in the Philippine criminal code, so this step is within the full authority of the President of the Philippines,” Yusril said.

As of this posting, the Indonesian side has yet to issue a formal decision on Veloso’s return. However, the ministry confirmed it received the Philippines’ official transfer request and has discussed it internally among concerned Indonesian ministries. “We have discussed everything internally in the ministries under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Kumham and Imipas and have reported it to President Prabowo (Subianto) who has approved this prisoner transfer policy,” Yusril added.

Veloso was jailed in 2010 and was sentenced to death in the same year after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her suitcase. She was given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015 when Manila informed their co
unterparts in Jakarta that her recruiters had surrendered. At that time, eight other drug convicts – seven foreigners and one Indonesian – were executed by firing squad.

According to the ministry, former President Joko Widodo has “long been consistent in not granting pardon to convicts in narcotics cases” and had rejected clemency requests both submitted by Veloso and the Philippine government.