TIMELINE: Mary Jane Veloso, from OFW dreamer to death row inmate

Mary Jane Veloso is an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) facing the death sentence for drug trafficking after she was caught with 2.6 kilos of heroin in Indonesia in 2010.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said Manila and Jakarta have reached an agreement to transfer Veloso to the Philippines, saying it reflected the two nations' partnership and "shared commitment to justice and compassion."

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said Marcos may also give Veloso clemency once she is transferred to the Philippines.

Take a look back at the ordeal of this Filipino mother of two: from receiving an offer to work in Malaysia, the discovery of illegal drugs in her luggage in Indonesia, to her pending execution, and her possible homecoming to the Philippines.

Job offer

January 1, 2010 — Veloso returned to the Philippines after working for 10 months as a domestic worker in Dubai, according to Migrante. She did not complete her two-year contract and returned to the Philippines because her employer allegedly tried to rape her.

April 18, 2010 — Veloso's friend Maria Kristina "Tintin" Sergio of Talavera, Nueva Ecija offered her a job as a domestic worker in Malaysia.

April 21, 2010 — The two arrived in Malaysia. Sergio told Veloso that the job was no longer available, but that she could still find another job. After a few days, Sergio sent Veloso to Indonesia for a supposed seven-day holiday and afterwards Veloso would go back to Malaysia for employment.

Arrest

April 25, 2010 — At the Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogjakarta, Indonesia, Veloso was arrested by Customs and Excise authorities due to her alleged possession of 2.6 kilos of heroin.

April 27, 2010 — Veloso's parents received a call from her in-laws informing them that their daughter arrived safely in Malaysia. During their visit to Sergio in Talavera, she told them that Veloso's employer was "very kind." Sergio also gave them clothes and milk allegedly from Veloso.

May 12, 2010 — Initially, Veloso did not tell her family about her situation in her previous messages. On this day, however, Veloso already told them what happened and that she was in jail.

May 13, 2010 — Sergio told Veloso's family to keep silent or else they will be in danger because she is a part of an international drug syndicate. She told them that the syndicate would spend millions to get Veloso out of prison.

August 1, 2010 — Despite the threat from Sergio, Veloso's family sought help from the Philippine government.

Death sentence

October 11, 2010 — The District Court of Justice of Sieman In Yogjakarta sentenced Veloso to death.

October 22, 2010 — The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta reportedly filed an appeal with the Appeals Court of Yogjakarta.

October 27, 2010 — the Philippine Embassy recommended the hiring of a private lawyer for Veloso for the appeal stage, prompting the disbursement of US$5,000 from the Legal Assistance Fund to hire the services of the Rudyantho & Partners Law Office.

February 10, 2011 — The Court of Appeals of Yogjakarta upheld Veloso's death penalty sentence.

February 21, 2011 — Veloso's lawyer filed a Memorandum of Appeal at the Supreme Court of Indonesia on behalf of Veloso.

February 22, 2011 — The Philippine Embassy appealed Veloso's case to the Supreme Court in Jakarta.

May 31, 2011 — The Supreme Court upheld Veloso's death penalty.

Aquino intervention

August 23, 2011 — Then-President Benigno Aquino Ill intervened through a request for clemency with then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono, who imposed a moratorium on executions during his term.

October 10, 2011 — Ambassador Maria Rosario Aguinaldo forwarded Aquino's Letter of Clemency to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

October 12, 2012 — The DFA confirmed to the family about the pending execution of Veloso.

Widodo rejection

December 30, 2014 — then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Decision 31/G - 2014 rejecting the request for clemency on behalf of Veloso.

January 19, 2015 — Veloso's lawyer filed the Application for Judicial Review of her case at the District Court of Justice of Slemen, Yogjakarta.

January 28, 2015 — Then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario personally gave his Indonesian counterpart a letter at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Retreat in Kola Kinabalu, requesting Indonesian authorities to give due course to the Application for Judicial Review of Veloso's case.

February 9, 2015 — Aquino once again discussed Veloso's case during Widodo's state visit. Del Rosario informed his counterpart of his intention to visit Veloso in Yogyakarta. During the courtesy call of Widodo with Aquino, the latter once again appealed for Veloso's case.

March 4, 2015 — A lower court handed down its decision ordering the endorsement of the case files to the Supreme Court in Jakarta to proceed with a judicial review. This initial stage of the judicial review was for the trial court to determine if there is merit for the review of the case by the Indonesian Supreme Court.

March 25, 2015 — The Indonesian Supreme Court rejected the petition for judicial review.

Execution Island

April 24, 2015 — Veloso was transferred to Nusa Kumbangan Island, tagged by some as "Execution" Island. The DFA held a press conference in the morning announcing that the second judicial review was filed.

April 28, 2015 — Aquino had a five-minute side meeting with Widodo at the ASEAN conference in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Sergio turned herself in to Philippine authorities. She was later charged with illegal recruitment, human trafficking and estafa.

April 29, 2015 — Veloso's execution was suspended until all proceedings in the Philippines were finished. The DFA said it was Aquino's appeal that saved Veloso.

September 12, 2016 — Then-President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly gave the Indonesian government the "go-ahead" to execute Veloso, a report on Jakarta Post said.

January 10, 2018 — On her 33rd birthday, Veloso sought Duterte's help in allowing her to testify against persons she said tricked her into bringing illegal drugs to Indonesia.

January 30, 2020 — A Nueva Ecija court convicted Veloso's alleged traffickers for large-scale illegal recruitment in a separate case involving three other women.

Marcos intervention

August 31, 2022 — Marcos said he would discuss the case of Veloso in his state visit to Indonesia.

January 11, 2024 — Marcos received commitment from Widodo that the case of Veloso would be reexamined, according to the Philippine Presidential Communications Office.

November 20, 2024 — Marcos said Manila and Jakarta reached an agreement to transfer Veloso to the Philippines, thanking new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his government for their goodwill. The DFA said there is no written agreement yet between the Philippines and Indonesia regarding the transfer, but Indonesia, through Indonesian Chief Minister for Law and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, confirmed that it would happen.

November 21, 2024 — Veloso's parents, Cesar and Celia, appealed to the Philippine government for her to be transferred to a safe local facility due to concerns over threats coming from the international drug syndicate that implicated her.

Marcos, meanwhile, expressed openness to the idea of granting Veloso clemency. "We will see," he told reporters in a chance interview.
 

Homecoming

December 16, 2024 - The Philippine government announced Veloso’s “imminent return” to the Philippines after more than a decade will happen just in time for Christmas. 

“Duty-bound as we are to honor the conditions for her transfer to the Philippine jurisdiction, we are truly elated to welcome Mary Jane back to her homeland and family, from whom she has been distracted for too long,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. 

DFA Undersecretary Tess Lazaro said that Veloso’s expected time of departure from Jakarta, Indonesia is at 12:50 a.m. and she will land in Manila at 6 a.m. 

December 17, 2024 - Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. confirmed that Veloso will be brought straight to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City once she lands in the Philippines. 

Catapang said the CIW in Mandaluyong City prepared adobong baboy and pastillas for Veloso, as per her request.

She will be in quarantine for the first five days upon arrival and will undergo orientation and security evaluation for the next 55 days before being detained in a regular cell.

December 18, 2024 - Veloso leaves Indonesia on a flight that will take her home to the Philippines after nearly 15 years since she was detained.  She thanked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and all those who worked for her homecoming. Veloso said she did not commit any crime and hoped she would be granted clemency.

At around 6 a.m., Veloso's flight landed in the country and was directly brought to the Correctional Institute for Women for quarantine.  There, she was reunited with her family.— VDV/KBK/ VAL/LDF GMA Integrated News