The head of the Class IIB Womenís Penitentiary, Evi Loliancy, shows a recent photo of Filipino former death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso (C) playing a keyboard ahead of Christmas celebrations, during a press conference in Wonosari, Yogyakarta, on November 21, 2024. Devi Rahman, Agence France-Presse 

MANILA — One of the legal counsels of Mary Jane Veloso is hoping that the Pinay on death row in Indonesia would be back home before Christmas as Jakarta and Manila finalize the deal to transfer jurisdiction over her to the Philippines.

• Saved from death row, Mary Jane Veloso 'elated'

"I do join what seems to be an overwhelming desire from both government and the peoples of Indonesia and Philippines and the public that she comes home in time for Christmas... That's the best time for Filipinos," said Edre Olalia, chairperson of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers-Philippines, which has assisted Veloso since the beginning of her case. 

• Marcos: Mary Jane Veloso returning to PH after 14 years in Indonesian jail

Veloso has been jailed in Indonesia for more than a decade for heroin smuggling, an act she has blamed to her recruiter. She was supposed to be executed in 2015 but was saved at the last minute after an appeal from the Philippine government. 

Indonesia's law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had "approved the transfer of prisoner policy" on Veloso's case. He added that the transfer was likely to take place in December. 

• PHOTO: Mary Jane Veloso set to go home

Olalia said the transfer of custody must be done as soon as possible and with least "fanfare."

"The order of the day is that she be brought home as soon as possible... The sooner and the simpler and the faster and less fanfare that we do it, all the better for all of us," he told ANC.

He admitted that the case of Veloso was unique and that procedure for the transfer has yet to be established. He added, however, that this should be easily resolved.

"[As long as] there is a signal from the top, everything will fall into place," he said.

The lawyer said that Veloso is not getting "special treatment" from the Indonesian government.

• Clemency for Veloso? Marcos says ‘everything is on the table’

"She wanted to have the due treatment, not necessarily a special one because we don't' want to give an impression that she's being given special treatment more than what she deserves. What she deserves really is to be released on humanitarian grounds based on many factors," Olalia said. 

For Olalia, Filipinos who rallied for Veloso should pat themselves on the back for "essentially, effectively, and practically, [having] collectively saved another kababayan from the gallows."

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