Politics · Philippines Bureau
Marcos signs absolute pardon for death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the documentation granting absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina who was on death row in Indonesia. The presidential action marks a significant development in a case that has drawn sustained attention from the Philippine government and public.
LSN Philippines ·
President Marcos confirmed Friday that he has already executed the paperwork for Mary Jane Veloso's absolute pardon during an interview in Samar. "Pinirmahan ko na," the President stated, using the Filipino phrase meaning "I've signed it already." The signing of the pardon documents represents the formal culmination of diplomatic efforts to secure Veloso's release from her death sentence in Indonesia. Veloso, a domestic worker, had faced execution for drug trafficking charges, a case that sparked widespread concern among Philippine officials and advocacy groups. The absolute pardon issued by Marcos underscores the state's commitment to supporting its citizens facing legal jeopardy abroad and marks a resolution to one of the most closely watched cases involving a Filipino national in recent years.