Government Extends P50,000 Support to Mary Jane Veloso & Family
MARY JANE VELOSO – A new chapter is beginning for Mary Jane Veloso as the government provides her family with cash aid and livelihood assistance following her release.
Mary Jane Veloso and her family have received financial and livelihood assistance from the Philippine government following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s grant of absolute pardon to Veloso, Malacañang said.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said during a briefing on Monday that personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) field office in Central Luzon visited Veloso and her relatives in Gen. Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija. The visit was conducted to provide immediate financial assistance and determine what livelihood support the family may need as Veloso begins rebuilding her life after her release.
On Sunday, DSWD personnel distributed P30,000 in cash relief assistance to Veloso and her parents. Each of the three recipients received P10,000.
The government assistance was also extended to Veloso’s two sons. The DSWD was set to provide P10,000 to each child on Monday, bringing the total cash assistance for the family to P50,000.
Aside from the immediate financial support, Veloso was assessed for possible inclusion in the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. The initiative could help her develop a source of income as she and her family adjust to life following her long detention.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is likewise extending support as part of Veloso’s reintegration into the community. According to Castro, the assistance includes livelihood starter kits, funding for small enterprises, skills development, and psychosocial counseling.
“These measures are aimed at restoring dignity and bringing hope to Mary Jane and her entire family as they begin a new chapter in their lives,” Castro said.
“Through these actions by the President, the life of a mother, a worker, and a Filipino was saved,” she added.
Marcos formally signed Veloso’s absolute pardon on Sept. 25, ending her prolonged imprisonment and allowing her to return to her family. The pardon came after years of legal and diplomatic developments surrounding her case.
Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities discovered 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside a suitcase she was carrying. She was subsequently convicted and sentenced to death. Her execution, originally scheduled for 2015, was postponed after she received a last-minute reprieve.
After years in Indonesian custody, Veloso was eventually repatriated to the Philippines on Dec. 18, 2024. Her return followed diplomatic discussions between Marcos and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
With the government now providing financial, livelihood, and reintegration assistance, Veloso and her family are being supported as they move forward from the long-running case and begin rebuilding their lives together.
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