SAVED FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH: Veloso finally arrives home

National

AFTER spending over a decade with anguish behind bars in Indonesia, Filipina death row convict Mary Jane Veloso finally arrived in the Philippines on Wednesday morning, December 18.

Shortly after her arrival, Veloso was met by her family in an emotional reuniond that marked the end “of a harrowing chapter” of her life.

Veloso was first approached by her two sons carrying flowers for her when she arrived at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong after landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Manila around 5:40 a.m.

Veloso was also met by her parents, Cesar and Celia, and the rest of her family.

Veloso was formally turned over by the Indonesian government to Philippine officials yesterday.

“The flight, which departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 12:05 a.m., marked the end of a harrowing chapter in Veloso’s life,” the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) said in a statement.

Officials from BuCor and the Department of Foreign Affairs earlier flew to Jakarta to finalize the transfer agreement of Veloso.

Past 12 midnight, Veloso arrived at the Indonesian Airport where she was welcomed by Philippine officials and boarded a commercial flight back to the Philippines.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Veloso was not wearing a handcuff, an instrument of restraint, or body armor.

Veloso, who was arrested in Indonesia after she was caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside her suitcase in 2010, was in tears as she thanked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She will be staying at the CIW and will be under quarantine for five days. She will then be subjected to an orientation and security evaluation in 55 days before she will be transferred to a regular cell.

Now that she is back in the country, Veloso and her family have appealed to President Marcos to grant her clemency.

Veloso maintained that she had no idea what was inside her luggage as this was just handed over to her by her recruiters.(LAO)