Parents, kids to visit Mary Jane Veloso in Indonesia ahead of transfer

The family of Mary Jane Veloso is set to travel to Indonesia on Sunday, December 15, to visit her ahead of her transfer to the Philippines.

“Ma, ano, sa tagal ng panahon ito na po yung ano ito na po yung palagi niyong sinasabi sa akin na magtiwala lang tayo sa Panginoon,” said her eldest son, Mark Danielle Candelaria, in a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by Vonne Aquino on Saturday.

(Ma, for the longest time, this is what you always tell me to just trust in God.)

Veloso's parents, her two children, her lawyer, Atty. Edre Olalia, some officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and a representative from OFW advocacy group Migrante will visit Mary Jane early next week.

Her father, Cesar, said they would also like to thank Veloso's supporters and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

He said that Mary Jane asked them to bring pastillas to give out to her friends in jail. She also requested to clean up her room in Nueva Ecija.

According to a report by Agence France Presse, Mary Jane may be transferred to the Philippines on December 20.

In the report, Mary Jane said her planned transfer was a miracle.

"This is a miracle because, honestly, even now, it still feels like a dream. Every morning when I wake up, I think about my aspirations, aspirations that I never had any certainty about," she said when asked about the decision.

"That's why I always prayed to God, 'Lord, I only ask for one chance to go home and be with my family. And God answered that prayer."

When Mary Jane returns to the Philippines, she will appear in court.

“Nalalabi na lang na ebidensya ay yung testimonya niya kasi siya po ang nagrereklamo doon laban sa illegal na recruiter,” said Olalia.

(The only remaining evidence is her testimony because she filed the complaint against the illegal recruiter.)

Veloso, 39, was arrested and sentenced to death in 2010 after the suitcase she was carrying was found to be lined with 2.6 kilograms of heroin, in a case that sparked uproar in the Philippines.

Both she and her supporters claim she was duped by an international drug syndicate, and in 2015, she narrowly escaped execution after her suspected recruiter was arrested. — Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News