MANILA: Mary Jane Veloso, who acquired a last-minute reprieve from execution by firing squad for drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2015, arrived in Manila within the early hours of Wednesday (Dec 18) after years of negotiations between the 2 Southeast Asian international locations.
Veloso, a 39-year-old former home helper and mom of two, informed reporters in Jakarta she was prepared to start out a brand new life within the Philippines.
Veloso was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after being discovered with 2.6kg of heroin hid in a suitcase. She stated she was an unwitting drug mule, however she was convicted and sentenced to loss of life.
Her launch got here days after the 5 remaining members of the “Bali 9” drug ring had been repatriated to Australia from Indonesia.
Veloso was flanked by heavy safety upon her arrival at Manila’s airport and was transported straight to a jail facility for girls. Her household and dozens of supporters who had been ready exterior the terminal did not greet Veloso on her arrival.
“They made my daughter a prison even when she is harmless. They didn’t permit us to see her. We wished to hug her,” her father Cesar Veloso informed reporters on the airport as he broke down in tears.
Her mom Celia Veloso was extra upbeat, saying: “What’s vital is she’s right here already”.
Edre Olalia, Veloso’s lawyer within the Philippines, stated authorities had given her household non-public time together with her on the jail facility.
The 2 governments agreed this month to switch Veloso again to Manila in a deal that features the Philippines respecting the court docket’s sentencing of Veloso and her standing as prisoner.
