Int'l lawyers group calls for absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant absolute pardon to convicted overseas worker Mary Jane Veloso.

Veloso returned home to the Philippines early this month after she was detained for almost 15 years in Indonesia for drug trafficking charges.

“We implore the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to free Mary Jane Veloso, by way of absolute pardon on compassionate grounds, in this, the Season of Peace,” the international organization said in a statement issued Tuesday.

“Veloso suffered long enough and the grant of clemency is primarily a presidential prerogative which may be given purely on a humanitarian basis, without the need of a lengthy administrative and legal review by experts. Justice delayed is justice denied,” it said.

Veloso’s family and several organizations, including Gabriela, have appealed for absolute clemency for Veloso following her repatriation. However, Marcos Jr. previously said that the possibility of granting her clemency is still "far off."

“Malayo pa tayo doon. We still have to look at really what their status is,” Marcos said in an ambush interview.

(We're not there yet.)

Meanwhile, the IADL said Veloso’s case should set a precedent for the national government in “pro-actively addressing the cases of the 59 other Filipinos on death row worldwide” as it appealed to other host governments holding prisoners to follow Indonesia and facilitate their repatriation to the Philippines.

“Despite the challenges ahead of us, the recent developments in her case are a victory and a testament to the tireless efforts of Mary Jane’s family, grassroots organizations, migrants’ rights advocates, people’s lawyers, and social movements who have campaigned relentlessly for over a decade,” said the IADL.

“Their perseverance and solidarity remind us that justice is achieved through collective action,” the group said.

Veloso's case caused an outcry in the Philippines. She was spared execution in 2015 at the last moment after Philippine officials asked Joko Widodo, then Indonesia's president, to let her testify against members of a human- and drug-smuggling ring.

Indonesia has said that it would respect any decision made by the Philippines, including if Veloso will be given clemency. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News