QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Malacañang is giving serious weight to granting an absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian grounds, a House leader revealed during congressional budget discussions on Wednesday, September 23.
Bataan 2nd District Representative Albert Garcia, vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, disclosed the development while sponsoring the proposed budget for the Office of the President (OP) under the ₱7.2-trillion 2027 General Appropriations Bill.
“The [OP] is seriously considering to grant absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso on humanitarian grounds in support of the government’s commitment to protecting Filipino migrant workers,” Garcia declared.
The announcement came during an interpellation by Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Jane Elago, who welcomed the update and highlighted the urgent need to reunite Veloso with her family after years of confinement.
“Kailan po natin maaasahan itong seryosong konsiderasyon? Mahigit isang dekada na ho na nawalay si Mary Jane sa kanyang pamilya, sa kanya pong magulang na matanda na ngayon. Yung dati niyang mga anak na bata pa, ngayon po ay malalaki na rin,” Elago said.
“Ang dami na pong taon ang nanakaw sa kanya na dahil dito sa malaking inhustisya na kanyang naranasan,” she emphasized.
In response to Elago’s inquiry regarding the timeline, Garcia indicated that a formal decision is imminent.
“Madam Speaker, distinguished colleague, there will be an announcement in a few days,” Garcia replied.
Veloso’s legal saga began in April 2010 when she was arrested in Indonesia for drug trafficking and subsequently sentenced to death. She received a last-minute execution stay in April 2015 following appeals from the Philippine government, which cited legal proceedings against her human traffickers.
On December 18, 2024, Veloso returned home after Indonesian authorities agreed to transfer her custody to the Philippines.
Under the terms of the bilateral custody agreement, Veloso remained in detention to finish her sentence locally, leaving the authority to issue clemency or a pardon solely with the Philippine President.