Mary Jane Veloso to celebrate Christmas with family after over a decade

Mary Jane Veloso will celebrate Christmas with her family for the first time on Wednesday after more than a decade of detention in Indonesia.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on Unang Balita, more than 20 siblings and relatives will visit Veloso, including her two children who will come from Nueva Ecija.

“Akala namin mamamatay na kaming mag asawa na hindi na namin makikita si Mary Jane. Hindi na namin makakapiling. Pero, ayun, pinagbigyan kami. Himala ng Diyos,” Celia, Veloso’s mother, said.

(We thought that we would die without seeing Mary Jane, without being with her again. But we were given a chance. It’s a miracle from God.) 

Meanwhile, her father, Cesar, said they would make up for lost time. 

“Babawi kami talaga. Maghapon. Baka, palagay ko, hindi ko na ma bitiwan ‘yung aking anak, lalo na kapag malapit na ‘yung uwian namin,” he added.

(We will really make up for it. All day long. I think I might not be able to let go of my child, especially when it's time for us to go home.)

The family will give Veloso clothes and other items she requested.

No pictures

However, though the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) allowed the visit, it prohibited the family from taking pictures or videos at the reception area of the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.

BuCor also allowed the family to bring food but not gifts.

It reminded the family that Veloso is still a person deprived of liberty. Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia and was only recently transferred to Philippine custody.

In a statement, BuCor said that the families of all PDLs are allowed to visit today to foster solidarity and promote the morale and welfare of PDLs.

BuCor said regular visits start at 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The bureau said it also allows stay-in privileges for wives and common-law-wives of PDLs during the holiday season.

Meanwhile, Mary Jane's parents again appealed to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for pardon. 

“Maawa na kayo sa aking anak dahil nag dusa naman na po ng katagal-tagal na panahon. Eh ito na po, regalo niyo na po sa amin para makapiling na namin po siya,” Cesar said. 

(Please have mercy on my child, as she has already suffered for a long time. This can be your gift to us so that we can finally be together with her.)

Clemency

For his part, Marcos has said that the possibility of granting Veloso clemency is still "far off." He also said that he will trust the judgment of the government’s legal experts regarding a possible clemency.

Meanwhile, Veloso’s lawyers previously reportedly argued that there are no more obstacles to granting Veloso clemency. 

“I read very carefully ‘yung statement ng mga coordinating ministry. It says that the responsibility for the rehabilitation, remission, or clemency is now passed on to the Philippine government. And they will respect that,” Atty. Edre Olalia, Veloso’s counsel, said.

“Sa bahagi ni BBM (for [Marcos’] part), it can demonstrate decisiveness, no? It can also demonstrate a head of one’s country’s empathy, mercy, sense of justice,” he added.

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

—Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News