Philippines, Indonesia agree on details of repatriation of Filipina on death row

JAKARTA - The Philippines and Indonesia signed an agreement on Dec 6 to repatriate Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row for drug charges in Indonesia since 2015, with officials saying she could return to the Philippines before Christmas.

“As instructed by President Prabowo (Subianto), if possible, we could resolve this case before Christmas,” Indonesia’s Senior Minister for Law and Human Rights Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra said.

Indonesia in November agreed to repatriate Veloso

, a domestic helper and mother of two, who was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after being found with 2.6kg of heroin concealed in a suitcase. She received a last-minute reprieve from execution in 2015.

Veloso’s case sparked an uproar in the Philippines, with her family and supporters saying she was innocent and had been set up by an international drug syndicate.

Mr Yusril said the Philippines agreed on several terms proposed by Indonesia, including respecting the Indonesian court’s sentencing of Veloso and her status as prisoner in Indonesia.

Indonesia would respect any decision made by the Philippines after Veloso returned home, including if she was given clemency, he added.

She will also be banned from coming to Indonesia, he added.

Indonesia also said that the agreement was “reciprocal”.

“If one day Indonesia asks for its citizens jailed in the Philippines to be returned, they must consider it,” Mr Yusril said.

Philippine Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said Veloso would serve her remaining sentence in the Philippines.

“Once the custody is being transferred, she will be subjected to rules and regulations of the Philippines authority,” he said, adding that any decision on giving Veloso clemency would depend on Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Mr Yusril said the Philippines informed Indonesia that it would change Veloso’s death sentence to life imprisonment.

Veloso was spared execution after Philippine officials asked Mr Joko Widodo, then Indonesia’s president, to let her testify against members of a human and drug smuggling ring.

She had always maintained her innocence, saying she was an unwitting drug mule for a Philippine employment recruiter.

Indonesia has also agreed to send back to Australia the remaining

five members of a drug smuggling ring called Bali Nine

, although both countries are still negotiating terms of the transfer.

France has also requested Indonesia for

repatriation of another death row prisoner

, Serge Atlaoui, convicted of drug offences. Jakarta had yet to decide on the request. REUTERS, AFP