OFW group Migrante International and the Task Force to Save Mary Jane hold a candle lighting at the St. Anthony de Padua Shrine on November 24, 2024 to pray for the safe return of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines. Photo courtesy Migrante International 

MANILA - The Philippine government said it is pleased that the Indonesian government would respect any decision on Mary Jane Veloso, including the possibility of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. granting her clemency.

Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said the Philippines welcomes the statement made by Indonesia (in a Reuters report) that it would respect any decision to be made on Veloso, including giving her clemency after she sets foot in the Philippines.

“Of course, we are happy to hear that from a sovereign state, however ang ating batas dito, yung Constitution ay nagbibigay poder kay Presidente lamang, it is in the Constitution that only the President has the prerogative to issue executive clemency to any person deprived of liberty, for reasons that are also stated there, humanitarian reasons and any other justifications that could justify yung exercise of mercy towards a certain person deprived of liberty,” Clavano said.

The DOJ is still waiting for word from a high level meeting in Indonesia Friday afternoon, to be attended by DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez.

“Wala pa po kaming official reply from the Indonesian government, we are waiting for the results dun sa high level meeting na ginaganap ngayong araw,” Clavano said.

The DOJ assured the public that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is considering all options, including granting clemency to Veloso.

“There are just so many things, so many factors are on the table in this case kaya siguro naririning naman ho niya ang mga, yung appeal ng pamilya, yung appeal ng ating progressive groups but at the same time nakikita yung convtcion sa indonesia, yung nangayring conviction so we have to be realistic about this and we have to consider everything as a whole,” Clavano said.