Mary Jane Veloso reunites with family after 5 years

Filipina death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso reunited with her family in Indonesia after five years, according to an alliance of overseas Filipinos and their families.

In a statement released Wednesday, Migrante International said Veloso’s parents and sons visited her in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for two days.

“Napakasaya ng aming pamilya. Pagkatapos ng matagal na panahon, nayakap na namin muli si Mary Jane. Hindi natulog si Mary Jane dahil nasasabik na makasama kami. Nakita niya ang dalawang anak niya, binata na,” Celia, Veloso’s mother, said.

(Our family is very happy. After a long time, we were able to hug Mary Jane again. Mary Jane did not sleep because she was excited to see us. She saw her two sons who are already teens.)

“Nung nakita nila Mama nila, ayaw nila pakawalan, parating hinahalikan at niyayakap. Miss na miss na nila ang Mama nila. Nakapagkwentuhan kami, nagdasal at nagmisa kami,” she added.

(When they saw their mother, they didn’t want to let go, and they would often kiss and hug her. They miss her so much. We were able to talk and pray.)

Veloso’s eldest son, Mark Danielle, said he wanted to bring her home to the Philippines.

“Alam kong nabiktima lamang si Mama at mabuti siyang tao at ina. Sana mabigyan na siya ng clemency sa lalong madaling panahon para makasama na namin siya,” he said.

(I know she was only used and she is a good person and a good mother. I hope she will be given clemency at the soonest possible time so we can be together.)

Meanwhile, Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take more proactive actions and appeal to the Indonesian government to grant Veloso clemency.

In 2010, Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking after she was caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin in Yogyakarta. She was given the death penalty.

Marcos in May said he would continue to ask Indonesia for a commutation or even pardon for Veloso. — DVM, GMA Integrated News