Members of various migrant workers' organizations gather in front of the Department of Migrant Workers headquarters in Mandaluyong City as part of the National Day of Protest on March 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Members of various migrant workers' organizations gather in front of the Department of Migrant Workers headquarters in Mandaluyong City as part of the National Day of Protest on March 18, 2024. A candle-lighting ceremony was held for Flor Contemplacion, Mary Jane Veloso, and all OFWs who were victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking. The protesters called for salary adjustments and benefits for Overseas Filipino Workers and their families, amplifying their demands for better working conditions and protection.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

NATL DAY OF PROTEST MIGRANT WORKERS

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"><span dir="ltr"></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173199930677020240318-migrant-workers-protest-JC-8711.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Members of various migrant workers&#x27; organizations gather in front of the Department of Migrant Workers headquarters in Mandaluyong City as part of the National Day of Protest on March 18, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday confirmed that the Philippines and Indonesia were discussing the possible transfer of Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines to serve her sentence in a facility here.</p><p>Indonesia media earlier reported that their government was mulling the possibility of allowing the transfer of foreign prisoners like Veloso to their home country, where they can serve the rest of their sentence.</p><p>In Tuesday&#x27;s statement, the DFA said it joined the Filipino nation in praying for a successful resolution of Veloso&#x27;s case, &quot;one which shall do justice to Ms. Veloso and her family while strengthening the deep bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Indonesia.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/18/dfa-hoping-to-announce-something-positive-soon-on-mary-jane-veloso-case-1604">READ: DFA hoping to announce &#x27;something positive soon&#x27; on Mary Jane Veloso case</a></div><p>DFA Undersecretary for Migration Eduardo de Vega on Monday said they were doing all they could to save Veloso, who was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for carrying a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms of heroin and later sentenced to death.</p><p>Veloso won a last-minute reprieve from the firing squad in 2015 after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested in the Philippines.</p><p>&quot;Certainly, the Indonesians and the Filipinos have been talking about this for some time and we hope that we&#x27;ll come out with a solution, a mutually agreed solution, which will be to the utmost benefit of Ms. Veloso and her family,&quot; De Vega said.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re also hopeful that we can announce something positive soon,&quot; he added.</p><div><strong>WELCOME DEVELOPMENT</strong></div><p>Veloso&#x27;s legal counsel, Atty. Edre Olalia, said this is a welcome development, should it push through.</p><p>&quot;Unique and novel yung situation kaya nagbibigay siya ng bagong pag-asa kasi kung tutuusin mo, kung walang death penalty sa Pilipinas, ano &#x27;yung susunod na kaparusahan ay &#x27;yung tinatawag na life imprisonment,&quot; he told Teleradyo Serbisyo Tuesday night.</p><p>&quot;Unique siya, welcome development siya kasi nagbuka eh. Matagal na panahon na nananawagan tayo ng klemensiya sa Indonesia, sa dati nilang presidente, eh ito medyo bumuka. Kasi malinaw diyan sa pahayag na isinasalin na sa Philippine government ang pagpapasya,&quot; Olalia also said.</p><p>Olalia explained that the agreement would transfer the responsibility of administering the punishment.</p><p>However, since there is no death penalty in the Philippines, Olalia said Veloso may instead serve life in prison.</p><p>&quot;Sa sitwasyon ni Mary Jane, nakalagay doon sa pahayag na inililipat ng Indonesia sa option, o responsibilidad, o pagpapasya ng Philippine government, kung gusto nito magbigay ng klemensiya,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Pero sa panig ng Indonesia, as far as Indonesia is concerned, tumitindig sila na &#x27;yung conviction of death penalty ay dapat respetuhin,&quot; Olalia added.</p><p>Death penalty in the Philippines was abolished in 2006, during the administration of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.</p><div><strong>—with a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse</strong></div><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/mOI9WNOGK6A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Philippines and Indonesia were discussing the possible transfer of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines to serve her sentence in a facility here.</p>

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Philippines and Indonesia were discussing the possible transfer of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines to serve her sentence in a facility here.

Mary Jane Veloso's transfer to PH facility under discussion with Indonesia: DFA | ABS-CBN

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Sports

More

News

Mary Jane Veloso's transfer to PH facility under discussion with Indonesia: DFA

Mary Jane Veloso's transfer to PH facility under discussion with Indonesia: DFA

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 19, 2024 03:06 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 19, 2024 09:45 PM PHT

Read More:

DFA

Mary Jane Veloso

Indonesia

ABSNews

ANC promo

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

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2024 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Advertise with Us

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

© 2024 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.