Mary Jane Veloso clemency petition launched

A petition urging Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr to grant clemency to Mary Jane Veloso has been launched by advocacy group Migrante and church-based Task Force Save Mary Jane.

The signature campaign is supported by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), which has launched its own "Save Mary Jane Veloso Task Force" that seeks to shrine a light on Veloso's difficult situation and advocate for her safe return to the country after more than a decade behind bars in Indonesia.

The petition highlights Veloso's experience as a victim of human trafficking, stating, "Mary Jane should not be seen as a criminal but as a victim who was manipulated into a predicament beyond her control." This viewpoint reinforces the belief that those exploited by human traffickers deserve empathy and support instead of punishment.

Veloso was arrested in April 2010 at the Yogyakarta airport for carrying a suitcase filled with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin, which led to a death sentence by firing squad imposed in October of the same year.

In a remarkable turn, her execution was halted in 2015 at the last minute after Philippine authorities detained a woman believed to have recruited Veloso for drug trafficking. This unexpected reprieve gave hope to her supporters, who turned out in large numbers to advocate for her life.

Earlier this week, President Marcos announced that the Philippine government had reached an agreement with Indonesian authorities concerning Veloso's case, a statement that was supported by Jakarta.

This news has revitalized the ongoing efforts to secure her clemency, as her advocates believe that justice should be upheld not just for her but for all victims of human trafficking.

The current petition aims to gather widespread support, similar to a campaign from 2015 that collected almost half a million signatures within weeks.

As the NUPL continues to seek international attention and support, they encourage individuals around the world to add their signatures to the petition.

“Our global movement played a crucial role in helping save her life. Now, let’s focus on bringing her back home safely to her family and securing her freedom!” NUPL's said in its petition.

According to NUPL's petition, the situation remains sensitive as negotiations progress. Advocates maintain hope that with strong support, Mary Jane Veloso can finally reunite with her family and receive the care she needs to recover from her traumatic experience.

The petition can be found here.

Last week, Marcos expressed openness to granting clemency for Veloso.

'We will see... 'di pa maliwanag ano ba talaga... this is the first time that this has happened, everything is on the table,'' Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview.

''As I said, we have been working on this, all the previous presidents, 'di lang ako (not only me)... ten years na ito. Ang nagawa natin napa-commute natin ang sentensiya niya from death sentence to life imprisonment tapos ang nasunod doon, napauwi na natin. We will have to decide what will happen next,'' added Marcos.

--VAL, GMA Integrated News