The Story Of Mary Jane Veloso: Death Penalty For Drug Couriers From The Philippines

Mary Jane Veloso prayed guided by clergy as well as witnesses, Father Bernhard Kieser in a follow-up hearing at the Sleman District Court, Yogyakarta, Wednesday (4/3/2015). (ANTARA PHOTO/Doni Monardi/pd/aa)

JAKARTA - The name Mary Jane Veloso had caused a stir throughout the archipelago. The woman from the Philippines was initially caught smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin. He was detained and tried in Yogyakarta. The result was surprising because Mary Jane was sentenced to death.

The excitement arose everywhere, Indonesia and the Philippines. The results of the Sleman District Court were also sanctioned by many parties. Many think that Mary Jane is actually a victim, not a perpetrator of a crime. The Filipino people also asked Indonesia to postpone the execution, thankfully releasing Mary Jane.

Every human being must have felt what was called misfortune. However, not all humans can feel the severity of Mary Jane. The woman from Bulacan, Philippines, has lived daily as a migrant worker in Dubai.

She works in the domestic household. Malang cannot be rejected. She was almost raped by her employer in Dubai. The trauma made Mary Jane decide to return to the Philippines in 2010. The absence of work made her uneasy.

She finally got a new job from her husband's acquaintance named Kristin. Mary Jane was invited to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia to get a job. In fact, Mary Jane was asked to become a courier.

Mary Jane only brought a bag, ticket, and pocket money of 500 US dollars. The purpose of the bag is Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The plan is for the suitcase that Mary Jane brings to be immediately taken by someone at the airport.

The lure of money is Mary Jane's main motivation. However, again unfortunate happened to her. The bag that Mary was carrying contained 2.6 kilograms of heroin. Mary Jane is also suspected of being involved in an international drug syndicate.

Mary Jane was immediately arrested by the police after landing at Yogyakarta's Adisutjipto Airport on April 25, 2010. Mary Jane gave up. He admitted that he was wrong. However, the Sleman District Court, who tried it, revealed that what Mary had committed was a serious crime.

Mary is suspected of violating Article 114 paragraph 2 of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics. This condition was because Mary was considered a drug courier. As a result, the panel of judges at the Sleman District Court gave the death sentence for Mary Jane in October 2010.

"I know I am guilty. However, I did not expect the sentence to be executed," said Mary when she shared her feelings when she received the verdict a few years ago as quoted on the page, CNN Indonesia, March 10, 2015.

Mary Jane was sad, not playing. She has been on the death row to be executed in April 2015. Mary Jane herself and her team of lawyers did not want to give up. They try to find the best solution by taking advantage of further legal steps Cassation to review.

However, this problem does not always make Mary Jane and her team of lawyers dizzy. All Indonesian people join the crowd of cases. There are those who support that Mary Jane be executed quickly. All for the sake of upholding the law in Indonesia.

There are also those who feel that the punishment received by Mary Jane is unfair. Moreover, Mary Jane's position as the mother of two children. Mary Jane may be punished. However, the punishment in question is not the death penalty.

The people of the Philippines are no less sympathetic. They wanted Mary Jane not to be sentenced to death. They one voice thought Mary Jane was just a victim and did not need to be sentenced to death. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III himself intervened in 2011.

Benigno directly met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to ask for forgiveness for Mary Jane. As a result, the death penalty was postponed, not canceled. That is in accordance with the moratorium on the death penalty that was in effect at that time.

The postponement of the death penalty was attended during the time of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who was greeted with great fanfare by the Filipino people in April 2015. This condition made the Filipino mainstay boxer even though he had to be able to go to Indonesia to encourage Mary Jane in July 2015.

However, during the 2016-2022 administration of the Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte Mary Jane did not get support. Hard Duterte against drug offenders invited Indonesia to execute Mary Jane in 2016. Even if it wasn't done.

Finally, Mary Jane was sentenced to prison again. This condition continued until good news emerged on November 20, 2024. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he would take Mary Jane home to the Philippines.

We thought we would lose our daughter. I thank God. What my daughter said before was true. If God wanted me to live, even if it was as thin as a thread or in the last minute, I would live, "said Mary Jane's mother, Ceila, to the radio station DZBB quoted by the BBC Indonesia website, April 29, 2015.