Filipina inmate Mary Jane Veloso on board a Cebu Pacific flight on her way back to the Philippines on December 18, 2024. Photo courtesy of Wendy PalomoMANILA (UPDATED) — Senators on Wednesday called on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Migrant Workers for an update on Filipinos incarcerated abroad as convicted Overseas Filipino Worker Mary Jane Veloso arrived in the Philippines after more than a decade in prison.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he hopes Veloso's repatriation is only the first of many Filipinos who are similarly situated across the world.

Mary Jane Veloso arrives in PH after 14-year imprisonment in Indonesia

“We must make them feel ‘the long arm of government’ to protect and shield them whenever they need help,” Escudero said in a statement as he praised the Marcos Jr. administration

He said assistance to Filipinos "should be the primary function not only of our DMW but all embassies and consulates abroad."

Protecting the rights and welfare of Filipinos abroad is one of the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy, alongside national and economic security.

Mary Jane Veloso's mom says they are allowed to spend Christmas together in correctional facility

Escudero said he is asking the DFA to account for Filipinos incarcerated abroad, the nature of their cases and “what has or can be done to help them regain their liberty [and ]how we can assist to make their detention, in the meantime, more bearable.”

He said government should also check on the families of jailed OFWs and see if agencies can help them visit their loved ones abroad while also looking into agreements what might allow “prisoner swaps” or other mechanisms to bring them home.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, made a similar call, saying the DFA and DMW should "continue to monitor the cases of our fellow Filipinos, particularly the 49 OFWs currently on death row, and ensure that they receive the necessary assistance from the government.”

He said the case monitoring and updates could also lead to government agencies seeking legal and diplomatic solutions “including possible commutation of sentence and allowing them to serve their sentence in the Philippines."

GOVERNMENT MUST ALSO HELP OTHER OFWS WITH CASES

Meanwhile, at the House, TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre — chair of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs — lauded Veloso's transfer to the country from Indonesia on Wednesday, saying ensures the death penalty cannot be imposed on her.

"Hindi lang ho si Mary Jane Veloso ang OFW na nagkaroon ng problema sa legal minsan sa mga paratang ng krimen at marami pong Pilipino around the world ang nasa ganyang kalagayan," he added.

(Mary Jane Veloso is not the only OFW who has had legal problems and has been accused of a crime. Many Filipinos around the world are facing a similar situation)

Acidre said Veloso’s case should be provide lessons to government “especially in providing ready and accessible legal assistance for our OFWs.”

Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman, chair of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality echoed the sentiment.

"Naalala ko rin na past administrations have practically given up on Mary Jane Veloso. It was President Marcos who insisted na dapat mapa-uwi siya," Roman also said.

President Benigno Aquino III actually made a personal appeal to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and other officials to stay Veloso’s scheduled execution in 2015.

That, and the arrest in the Philippines of Veloso's alleged illegal recruiters,  led to a reprieve that eventually led to her transfer to Philippine custody.

Duterte: 'Go ahead' not in reference to Veloso's execution

"There are many more Filipinos overseas who are on death row, and legal debacles. The work to save them continues," Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.

He added government must create more and better jobs in the Philippines and “root out and burn to the ground the syndicates which prey upon people like Mary Jane Veloso” to prevent more cases of Filipino workers being imprisoned abroad.

Veloso has been transferred to Philippine custody but her conviction for drug trafficking still stands.

Groups, including migrant worker organization Migrante, have called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant her clemency, a move that Indonesia said it would respect and that the President said is possible.

House resolution seeks Marcos clemency for Mary Jane Veloso

CALLS FOR CASE REVIEW, EVENTUAL PARDON

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada meanwhile called on government agencies “to thoroughly review her case and consider granting her the ultimate expression of justice and mercy—a pardon.”

He said Veloso deserves a second chance after her years of incarceration for drug trafficking that she, her family, legal team and supporters said was committed by illegal recruiters.

"Her case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by many Filipinos abroad, particularly those who fall victim to deception and human trafficking,” Estrada said.

“Her plight serves as a constant reminder of the need to strengthen measures to protect our overseas Filipino workers from falling prey to exploitation and illegal activities and to extend support to those wrongfully implicated or unjustly punished.“

House members said said they will leave the issue of clemency for Veloso to the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and to President Marcos Jr.

"Until such time that the Department of Justice and the Department of  Foreign Affairs would be more specific and indicative of its information, I would rather leave it to them first to explain kung anong mangyayari," Acidre said.

Bohol 3rd District Rep. Alexie Basas Tutor of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs said in a statement Veloso can qualify for executive clemency through commutation of sentence on time served. 

“There can also be other options. It is important to note that the laws violated are those of Indonesia, not Philippine laws. The presidential pardon powers cover Philippine laws only,” Tutor explained.

“This is why the commutation of sentence for time served is the most viable option. The effect would be the same: Mary Jane Veloso will inevitably gain her freedom. She also must testify against those people who caused her hardships,” she added.

'LABOR EXPORT POLICY' MUST CHANGE

In a statement, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas renewed calls for immediate and full clemency for Veloso.

"Mary Jane Veloso is a victim, hindi siya kriminal. She is a victim of human trafficking and the government's labor export policy that continues to push our women to work abroad despite the risks," she said.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro also urged for immediate and unconditional freedom for Veloso.

"The Marcos Jr. administration must act decisively not just for Mary Jane but for all victims of trafficking. Kailangan ng kongkretong hakbang para wakasan ang sistemang pumipilit sa ating mga kababayan na mag-abroad at maging biktima ng trafficking," she also said in a statement.

(Concrete steps are needed to end the system that forces our fellow Filipinos to work abroad and to be victims of trafficking)

Former ACT Teachers Rep.Antonio Tinio said Veloso's case shows the need for systemic changes to the government's "labor export policy" to protect OFWs.

"Hanggang ngayon, libu-libong Mary Jane ang napipilitang umalis ng bansa dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho at kahirapan." he said in a statement.

(Until now, thousands of 'Mary Janes' are forced to leave the country because of lack of employment and poverty)

Progressive group Makabayan is calling for the strengthening of anti-trafficking measures and protection for OFWs, creation of decent local employment and an end to the labor export policy.

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