MANILA, Philippines -- Mary Jane Veloso walked out of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City on Friday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted her an absolute pardon, ending her nearly 15 years in prison.
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. handed Veloso a copy of the President’s pardon and her official release order, completing the administrative procedures for her discharge.
Veloso was released from the CIW around 9 p.m. and was met outside the prison compound by her parents — Celia and Cesar Veloso — and her two adult sons, Mark Daniel and Mark Darren.
The absolute pardon removes the remaining legal impediments to Veloso’s conviction and allows her to begin rebuilding her life outside prison.
Following her release, Veloso will be endorsed to the local government unit (LGU) of her residence in Nueva Ecija as part of the government’s reintegration program, the BuCor said.
Through the LGU, Veloso is expected to have access to programs and services that may include livelihood assistance, social welfare support, counseling and skills development.
The BuCor said coordination with the LGU was part of its broader mandate to assist persons released from custody and help them establish stable and productive lives after incarceration.
Veloso’s release came after Marcos signed the order for absolute pardon on Thursday.
Veloso was repatriated to the Philippines in December 2024 after nearly 15 years in prison in Indonesia, where she had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
She was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage. She has maintained that she was unaware of the drugs and had been deceived by people who recruited her for work abroad.
Her execution in Indonesia was stopped in 2015 following a last-minute reprieve after the Philippine government appealed to Indonesian authorities to spare her life.
“This only proves that there are really second chances, and we are happy that Veloso can now enjoy her newfound freedom with her family,” Catapang said.
