Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina who spent nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, was granted an absolute pardon by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and released from prison on Friday. Veloso expressed deep gratitude to the president for clearing her name and allowing her to reunite with her family.

Veloso was arrested in 2010 after being sentenced to death by an Indonesian court for carrying illegal drugs. However, her execution was postponed in 2015 when Philippine authorities apprehended her alleged recruiter, who is accused of deceiving Veloso into transporting a suitcase with a hidden compartment containing the drugs. In 2024, Indonesia agreed to transfer Veloso to the Philippines under a "practical arrangement" to allow her to serve the remainder of her sentence there.

President Marcos confirmed signing the pardon the day before her release. Speaking at a news conference, Veloso said she was eager to reunite with her two sons, whom she had been separated from for many years. “I was unable to supervise them as they grew up, but I believe it’s not too late,” she said.

Veloso had traveled to Indonesia seeking employment as a domestic worker, a path taken by many Filipinos in search of better economic opportunities abroad. Her case generated widespread attention in the Philippines, highlighted by concerns that she was a victim of an international drug trafficking syndicate.

Celia Veloso, Mary Jane’s mother, said she had spoken with her grandchildren, who were overjoyed at the news of their mother’s pardon. “They said, ‘We will finally be able to be with mama,’” she said.

The move to pardon Veloso followed diplomatic efforts between the Philippine and Indonesian governments and reflects ongoing concerns over the treatment of overseas Filipino workers accused of crimes abroad.