President Marcos Confirms Decision to Grant Absolute Pardon to Mary Jane Veloso
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed an absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso after more than a decade.
On Friday (September 25, 2026), the President confirmed the decision during a visit to Guiuan, Eastern Samar. According to him, the pardon was officially signed the previous day, marking a major development in the case.
Veloso spent many years in detention in Indonesia after being convicted of drug trafficking. Her case became one of the most widely followed legal and diplomatic issues involving a Filipino overseas worker.
Over the years, her family, supporters, and various government officials worked to seek relief and assistance on her behalf.
In November 2024, the Philippines and Indonesia reached an agreement that paved the way for Veloso’s return to the country. Prior to her transfer, Indonesian authorities had reduced her sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment.
The Philippine government had long been engaged in discussions with Indonesian officials regarding Veloso’s situation. Efforts included requests for clemency, a reduction of her sentence, and the possibility of allowing her to serve her sentence in the Philippines.
On December 18, 2024, Veloso was formally transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections in the Philippines. The move was viewed as an important step toward resolving her long-running case.
President Marcos said that one of the administration’s early goals was to remove Veloso from death row and seek a reduction in her sentence. The granting of an absolute pardon now completes a process that involved years of diplomatic efforts and cooperation between the two countries.
The President also expressed gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their assistance and cooperation throughout the process.
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