Yusril: Philippine President May Change Mary Jane's Sentence Status

Screenshot - Coordinating Minister for Kumham Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra/

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction (Kumham Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra assessed Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong"Marcos Jr. will most likely change the status of the death penalty for narcotics smuggling case Mary Jane Veloso, after being transferred to the Philippines.

"Most likely the President of the Philippines will change Mary Jane's death penalty status to a life sentence," Yusril said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, November 21.

The reason, he said, was that the Philippines had eliminated the death penalty in his country. Meanwhile, Mary Jane is planned to be placed and fostered in Mandaluyong prison upon arrival in the Philippines.

Yusril said the prison was in the middle of Manila. After the President of the Philippines changes Mary Jane's sentence from the death penalty in force in Indonesia, he continued, it will only be the right of the Philippine government if it wants to grant remission or change the status of prisoners to house arrest or city detention.

That way, according to him, this has been completely handed over to the Philippine government, even though Indonesia still has access to find out the progress of the case.

"Kan kita punya embassi di Manila yang juga bisa memantau perkembangan ini. Jadi bukan Mary Jane dipindahkan ke sana lalu bebas, dia tetap harus menjalankan hukuman," tutur dia.

Yusril emphasized that this would also apply if later there was an agreement to transfer foreign prisoners (foreigners) from other countries.

Apart from the Philippines, Yusril said President Prabowo had received applications for the transfer of prisoners from France and Australia.

Later, after it is agreed, he continued, the transfer of prisoners from the two countries will also have provisions and conditions, the same as the transfer of Mary Jane.

"So will the other way around. So this is our relationship with other countries because of friendship, equality, balance, and mutual respect for one another," said Yusril.