Philippines Make Sure Mary Jane Veloso Keeps Restricting Sentences In Her Country

DOCUMENTATION BETWEEN/Death Convict Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso took part in the kebaya fashion show competition during the commemoration of Kartini Day at Yogyakarta PRISON, Tuesday (21/4/2015) (ANTARA PHOTO/Yeyen)

JAKARTA - The Philippine State Department ensures that the Philippine Government and Indonesia have conducted discussions and negotiations so that the convict of narcotics smuggling, Mary Jane Veloso, can complete his sentence in the Philippines.

"The Philippine and Indonesian governments have established discussions regarding the possibility of Mary Jane Veloso's transfer to the Philippines in order to complete her sentence at a Philippine correctional facility," the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, November 20.

The government and the people of the Philippines always pray for and hope that the matter will be resolved amicably by ensuring that Mary Jane and her family's justice rights are guaranteed, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Philippines also expressed hope that the resolution of Mary Jane's issue will always strengthen the collaboration and friendship between Indonesia and the Philippines.

Previously, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated Mary Jane Veloso would soon return to the Philippines following negotiations made by her side for the return of Mary Jane for years.

"Following diplomatic efforts and consultations with the Indonesian government for more than a decade, we managed to postpone the execution of his death until an agreement was reached to bring him back to the Philippines," President Marcos said on Wednesday.

Through his official Instagram account @bongbongmarcos, he referred to Mary Jane as a victim of circumstances' who was forced to take dependent measures', even though she admitted that the verdict received by Mary Jane was in accordance with the applicable laws in Indonesia.

President Marcos also expressed his gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their good faith in resolving the Mary Jane Veloso problem which shows a close bilateral relationship.

Responding to Marcos' statement, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Affairs RIYusril Ihza Mahendra emphasized that Mary Jane Veloso was not released, but transferred to her home country, Philippines, through a policy of transferring prisoners (transfer of persons).

"That after returning to his country and serving his sentence there, the authority to guide prisoners has changed to the authority of his country," said Yusril.

Mary Jane is a Filipino citizen who was sentenced to death by the Sleman District Court, Yogyakarta, in October 2010 after being caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin at Yogyakarta Adi Sutjipto International Airport in April 2010.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo also rejected the clemency request that was submitted by Mary Jane in 2014.