Mary Jane Veloso arrives at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City on December 18, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Mary jane Veloso

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173647405112820211218-mary-jane-veloso-womens-correctional-MT-20.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Mary Jane Veloso arrives at the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City on December 18, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The lawyers of Mary Jane Veloso reiterated their appeal for clemency from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as she celebrated her birthday at the Correctional Institution for Women.</p><p>Veloso, a drug convict who spent nearly 15 years on Indonesia&#x27;s death row, was transferred to the Philippines in December last year.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/17/mary-jane-veloso-arrives-in-ph-after-14-year-imprisonment-in-indonesia-0601">Mary Jane Veloso arrives in PH after 14-year imprisonment in Indonesia</a></div><p>“On Mary Jane Veloso&#x27;s 40th birthday, we ask, ‘What are you waiting for, Mr. President?’” asked National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers ChairpersonEdre Olalia.</p><p>Under the agreement for Veloso&#x27;s transfer, her life sentence now falls under the Philippines&#x27; purview, &quot;including the authority to grant clemency, remission, amnesty and similar measures&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/17/mary-jane-veloso-ready-to-start-new-life-as-she-leaves-indonesia-0229">Mary Jane Veloso ready to start new life as she leaves Indonesia</a></div><p>Olalia said the responsibility has been passed on to the President.</p><p>Olalia also noted that the United Arab Emirates pardoned 220 Filipinos recently.</p><p>&quot;So what gives, Mr. President?&quot; he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/18/in-photos-mary-jane-veloso-back-in-ph-reunites-with-family-1332">IN PHOTOS: Mary Jane Veloso back in PH, reunites with family</a></div><p>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, in a case that sparked uproar in the Philippines.</p><p>Her scheduled 2015 execution by firing squad was stayed at the last minute. The reprieve was granted after a woman suspected of recruiting her was arrested on human trafficking charges and Veloso was named as a prosecution witness.</p><p>The justice department earlier said her clemency bid would be &quot;seriously studied&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/19/-malayo-pa-tayo-roon-marcos-leaves-mary-jane-veloso-clemency-up-to-legal-experts-1059">&#x27;Malayo pa tayo roon&#x27;: Marcos leaves Mary Jane Veloso clemency up to legal experts</a></div><p>She will serve out her life sentence if not pardoned, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said.</p><p>Indonesia&#x27;s government has said it will respect any decision made by Manila.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/18/timeline-mary-jane-veloso-s-decade-long-ordeal-from-indonesian-death-row-to-miracle-homecoming-1327">TIMELINE: Mary Jane Veloso&#x27;s decade-long ordeal from Indonesian death row to &#x27;miracle&#x27; homecoming</a></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XL7bMSgkGIA" title="Mary Jane Veloso, kapiling ang pamilya ngayong Pasko | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>The lawyers of Mary Jane Veloso reiterated their appeal for clemency from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as she celebrated her birthday at the Correctional Institution for Women.</p>

The lawyers of Mary Jane Veloso reiterated their appeal for clemency from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. as she celebrated her birthday at the Correctional Institution for Women.

Mary Jane Veloso spends 40th birthday in jail; lawyers ask for her freedom | ABS-CBN

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Mary Jane Veloso spends 40th birthday in jail; lawyers ask for her freedom

Mary Jane Veloso spends 40th birthday in jail; lawyers ask for her freedom

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 10, 2025 09:57 AM PHT

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