The parents of Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso during the Bonifacio Day protest in Mendiola, November 30, 2024. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — The family of Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso has canceled their trip to Indonesia as their kin begins to process her return to the Philippines ahead of Christmas.

In a statement, the Veloso family said the December 16 to 18 trip to Yogyakarta was canceled after they were informed that Mary Jane is set to be transferred to Jakarta.

READ: Mary Jane Veloso says planned transfer to PH a 'miracle'

"Ayon sa DFA, ngayong araw nakatakda ang pag-biyahe ni Mary Jane papuntang Jakarta para simulan ang proseso ng kanyang pag transfer sa Pilipinas, alinsunod sa utos ng Indonesian Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections," Celia and Cesar Veloso said.

(According to the DFA, Mary Jane is scheduled to travel to Jakarta today to begin the process of her transfer to the Philippines as ordered by the Indonesian Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections)

“Kami, mga magulang at anak ni Mary Jane ay nanghihinayang na hindi kami matutuloy sa pagbisita kay Mary Jane dahil napaghandaan po namin ito at nasasabik namin siyang makasama makalipas ng isang taon mula ng huli naming bisita sa kanya,” the statement read.

(We, the parents and children of Mary Jane are sad that we cannot push through with our visit because we have prepared for it and are excited to see her a year since we last visited)

The family said they are nevertheless very happy that Mary Jane is set to come home, even if there is no definite date yet for her arrival.

Mary Jane Veloso coming home before Christmas, Indonesian official says

Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said this month that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto wants Veloso returned to the Philippines for the Christmas holidays.

"It's wonderful right? This was already discussed for more than 10 years, finally we can settle this method only around two months. President Prabowo is very fast to take decision," Mahendra also said.

The now 39-year-old Veloso was arrested and sentenced to death in 2010 after the suitcase she was carrying was found to be lined with 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

She said that she had been duped by an international drug syndicate, and, in 2015, narrowly escaped execution after her suspected recruiter was arrested.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier thanked the Indonesian government for allowing Veloso to be transferred to a facility in the Philippines, where she is expected to serve the sentence of life imprisonmemt as there is no death penalty in the Philippines.

CALLS FOR CLEMENCY

Although Veloso is being transferred to Philippine custody, her conviction by an Indonesian court still stands. 

The Indonesian government, which seeks to return its foreign prisoners by the end of 2024, said it would respect any decision made by the Marcos administration after Veloso returned home, including granting her clemency.

The DFA said in November that it will seek full liberty for Veloso, saying “we certainly do not want the situation in the Philippines where Mary Jane Veloso will be serving sentence for the rest of her life."

A resolution has also been filed at the House urging President Marcos Jr. to grant clemency to Veloso

When asked if an executive clemency may be granted to Veloso, the President said “everything is on the table.” — with Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News