Mary Jane Veloso transferred to regular dorm; quarantine over — BuCor

Mary Jane Veloso has been transferred to a regular dorm of the Reception and Diagnostic Center (RDC) at the Correctional institution for Women after her five-day quarantine period ended, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Friday.

According to the bureau, Veloso was transferred to the regular dorm on Thursday, where she will stay for the next 55 days.

She will undergo mandatory orientation, diagnostics, and classification.

CIW acting superintendent Marjorie Ann Sanidad said the dorm measures 48x32 feet long. Veloso will stay there with 30 newly-received persons deprived of liberty (PDL).

“This arrangement not only promotes a sense of community but also emphasizes the importance of shared experiences and mutual support among the women as they embark on their individual paths toward reform and rehabilitation,” BuCor said in a statement, quoting Sanidad.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang said the phase seeks to help new PDLs get familiar with the rules and regulations of BuCor as well as the PDL’s rights and privileges.

Meanwhile, Catapang ordered the CIW to translate Veloso’s prison records from Indonesia. 

“This translation is crucial for the Bucor as it will enable them to assess whether Veloso's incarceration in Indonesia can be officially recognized as valid prison time under their jurisdiction,” BuCor said.

Veloso was recently transferred to Philippine custody after more than a decade of being detained in Indonesia due to drug trafficking.

She and her family have appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for 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.

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