MALACAÑANG said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is considering granting an absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian grounds.
Veloso was arrested and sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2010. She was imprisoned for nearly 15 years in Indonesia before being repatriated to the Philippines in December 2024.
On Wednesday, Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia said that the Office of the President was seriously considering pardoning Veloso.
This was confirmed in a press briefing by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.
”What we will confirm is that the granting is being considered,” said Castro in Filipino, noting that there is no timeline yet for when Marcos will render a decision.
Castro added that formal notification to the Indonesian government concerning the granting of clemency is likely unnecessary under existing bilateral arrangements.
Under the terms of Veloso’s repatriation, executive clemency remained a prerogative for the Philippine government.
”Whatever his decision and reasons will be, that rests with the President. We will provide the details as soon as they become available,” Castro said.
In February, Castro urged Veloso to personally write Marcos to grant her clemency.
