Camille Naredo

Filipino drug convict on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso, poses for a photograph at Yogyakarta Womens Correctional Institution Class IIB in Wonosari, Yogyakarta on December 13, 2024. -She says her planned transfer was a "miracle", in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last week to repatriate her. Devi Rahman, AFP

Filipino drug convict on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso, poses for a photograph at Yogyakarta Womens Correctional Institution Class IIB in Wonosari, Yogyakarta on December 13, 2024. - A Filipina drug convict on death row in Indonesia told AFP from prison on December 13 that her planned transfer was a "miracle", in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last week to repatriate her. (Photo by DEVI RAHMAN / AFP)

Article (news)

Mary Jane Veloso

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1734349823677121624_Mary Jane Veloso.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino drug convict on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso, poses for a photograph at Yogyakarta Womens Correctional Institution Class IIB in Wonosari, Yogyakarta on December 13, 2024. -She says her planned transfer was a &quot;miracle&quot;, in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last week to repatriate her. Devi Rahman, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino drug convict on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso, poses for a photograph at Yogyakarta Women&#x27;s Correctional Institution Class IIB in Wonosari, Yogyakarta on December 13, 2024. -She says her planned transfer was a &quot;miracle&quot;, in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last week to repatriate her. <em>Devi Rahman, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Malacañang on Monday confirmed that Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso is set to return to the Philippines after her 14-year imprisonment in Yoryakarta, Indonesia.</p><p>&quot;With much appreciation and gratefulness to the Republic of Indonesia, we confirm the imminent return of our kababayan, Mary Jane Veloso,&quot; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said, without giving a definite date of her arrival.</p><p>&quot;Her homecoming is the fruit of more than a decade of persistent discussions, consultations and diplomacy,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;Duty-bound as we are to honor the conditions for her transfer to Philippine jurisdiction, we are truly elated to welcome Mary Jane back to her homeland and family, from whom she has been distanced for too long,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/16/mary-jane-veloso-may-return-to-ph-this-week-dfa-1337">READ: Mary Jane Veloso returning to Philippines on Dec. 18: official</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/15/dfa-calls-of-parents-visit-to-mary-jane-veloso-in-indonesia-1150">READ: DFA calls off family’s visit to Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia</a></div><p>Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Corrections earlier flew to Jakarta to finalize Manila&#x27;s prisoner transfer agreement with Jakarta.</p><p>Veloso is expected to arrive in Manila on the evening of December 18, according to sources.</p><p>Veloso was arrested and sentenced to death in 2010 after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her luggage, but the Filipina asserted that the bag was only handed to her by her recruiters.</p><p>She narrowly escaped death in 2015 after her recruiters were arrested shortly before her scheduled execution.</p><p>Reports of Veloso&#x27;s transfer to a Philippine prison started earlier this year, shortly after new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto rose to power.</p><p>Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials welcomed the transfer as Veloso would be spared from execution because the Philippines does not have a death penalty law in place.</p><p>Veloso had called her transfer a &quot;miracle&quot; as she was supposed to be executed in 2015, but was spared as the recruiters who allegedly stashed the illegal drugs in her luggage were arrested moments before she was killed via a firing squad.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RyRR1zC4kSQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Malacañang on Monday confirmed that Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso is set to return to the Philippines after her 14-year imprisonment in Yoryakarta, Indonesia.</p>

Malacañang on Monday confirmed that Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso is set to return to the Philippines after her 14-year imprisonment in Yoryakarta, Indonesia.

Malacañang confirms 'imminent return' of Mary Jane Veloso to PH

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Malacañang confirms 'imminent return' of Mary Jane Veloso to PH

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 16, 2024 07:51 PM PHT

Read More:

absnews

anc promo

Mary Jane Veloso

Indonesia

Malacanang

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Department of Foreign Affairs

Bureau of Corrections

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.