THE Indonesian government did not impose any condition for the transfer of detention of Filipina death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
“From the actuations and practical agreement signed between the Philippine and Indonesian governments, there seems to be no conditions imposed. They are giving Mary Jane Veloso to us and it is up to us to decide whether there should be other steps taken,” Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said in mixed English and Filipino during a chance interview with reporters.
“Before, we thought that the Philippines will get physical custody of Veloso while Indonesia will retain legal custody. But it seems right now, both legal and physical custody are now with the Philippines,” he added.
Clavano said this will further expedite the transfer process if Veloso will be granted clemency by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The executive clemency procedure is simple in general. As long as there is justifiable grounds to issue executive clemency, it will be easy, it goes through the board of pardon and parole for screening and then up to the President for signing,” he said.
“So it’s easy but it’s just very comforting to know that the Indonesian government has given due respect to our sovereign country and has given the choice solely to the president,” he added.
With this, Clavano said the government is optimistic that Veloso will be home by Christmas.
“Yes, we are very well aware that the Indonesian government has indicated or expressed their intention to deport or transfer her custody from Indonesia to the Philippines before Christmas. We hope this will come true; it will be a nice Christmas gift because we have just saved a Filipino life from death row,” Clavano said.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla met with his Indonesian counterpart last Friday to discuss Veloso’s impending transfer to Manila.
The Indonesian government requested the face-to-face meeting between Remulla and the Indonesian Minister for Human Rights and Corrections. Clavano could not provide an update on Remulla’s meeting with Indonesian officials.
Velasco has been languishing in Indonesian jail since 2010 after she was apprehended by Indonesian authorities at the Yogyakarta airport for bringing in more than two kilograms of heroin.
Her execution by firing squad in April 2015 was stopped by then-President Joko Widodo merely an hour before it was supposed to be carried out, based on appeals of then-President Benigno Aquino III who explained that her testimony is vital in the case she has filed against her recruiters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month announced that an agreement has been reached between the Philippines and Indonesia for the turnover of Veloso’s jurisdiction to the Philippine government.
