It was not a happy birthday

By E. Maestro

Mary Jane Veloso turned 41 last January 10, 2026. She has spent 15 birthdays behind bars, in prisons in Indonesia and the Philippines. 

Migrante International posted that “the Philippines government has kept Mary Jane behind bars for over a year now [in the Philippines]. There is nothing stopping her from realizing freedom but the whim of Bongbong Marcos. She has no crime under our legal system. Indonesia has long said they would respect any measure of clemency for Mary Jane. Most of all, she is not a criminal but a victim of human trafficking. Rather than grant Mary Jane clemency or push through with her case against her traffickers, Marcos Jr. continues to prolong her suffering in prison with no justice in sight.”

Malaya Canada and the Global Pinoy Diaspora in Canada had hoped that Mary Jane would be released during the holiday season in 2025. They sent a letter/ petition to President Marcos, Jr, to the Secretary of  Justice, the Director General of the Bureau of Corrections, and the Philippine Ambassador to Canada. 

The response from the Bureau of Corrections was that the Board of Pardons and Parole has assessed on September 11, 2025 that “in assessing the qualifications of Ms. Veloso on whether or not she is eligible for executive clemency review, which, as of that date, remains in the NEGATIVE.” 

It continues:  “As a result, PL Veloso, whose original sentence was commuted to reclusion perpetua (life imprisonment), will only be eligible for commutation of sentence after serving 25 years. Furthermore, she will be eligible for conditional pardon upon serving ½ of the maximum term of her original indeterminate and/or definite prison sentence. As of this date (Dec 27, 2025), PL Veloso has served a total of fifteen (15) years, eleven (11) months. And twenty-nine (29 days), including earned Good Conduct Time Allowance.”

Nagtatanong lang. Which Philippine court commuted her death sentence imposed by the Indonesian court to life imprisonment? When did this happen? 

The National Union of Lawyers, on behalf of Mary Jane, submitted a petition for the writ of habeas corpus before the Supreme Court Despite last November 14, 2025.  “Despite surviving a near-execution and enduring nearly fifteen years of incarceration in Indonesia, Mary Jane remains behind bars—this time on Philippine soil, under the custody of our own government, without a single criminal charge, conviction, or commitment order from any Philippine court. Her continued detention is based solely on a “practical arrangement” between two States, forged entirely out of executive discretion and without apparent basis in any international or domestic law.” 

The Supreme Court still has to respond to the petition and in the meantime, the days go by, the clock keeps on ticking. Malinaw ang basehan ng mga abogado ni Mary Jane, kung pakikinggan lang sana.

Firstly, “The Philippine government has no legal authority to enforce a foreign criminal judgment in the absence of a treaty on the transfer of sentenced prisoners or enabling law.” Mary Jane Veloso’s  confinement in prison is unconstitutional. She is detained in the Philippines without a charge, conviction, or commitment order from any Philippine court. 

Heto pa. “Under the principle of territoriality, the Philippines has no jurisdiction to enforce a foreign court’s sentence, especially in the absence of a treaty or enabling law.”

Secondly, “Mary Jane’s continued detention violates international and domestic law protecting trafficking victims.” Matibay at klaro ang sinasabi ng mga abogado ni Mary Jane: “Mary Jane is formally recognized by the Philippine government as a trafficking victim and private complainant in the ongoing criminal case against her recruiters. Her arrest and conviction abroad were the direct result of the deception and exploitation she suffered at their hands. To continue enforcing that foreign sentence now, on Philippine soil, is a direct breach of both international and domestic law.”

Ang presidente ang may kapangyarihan na gamitin ang executive clemency on humanitarian grounds, siya lang ang may mabigat na kapangyarihan tulad nito.

Alam ko, patuloy na magtitiis si Mary Jane sa bilangguan. Patuloy na maghihinagpis ang kaniyang magulang at mga anak. Hindi sila naghihintay ng himala. (Kasi wala nga daw himala.)

Ang pinanghahawakan ay ang paniniwala na mananaig ang hustisya, ang compassion, ang karapatang pantao para kay Mary Jane.

Iyon din ang pinanghahawakan namin, kami na sumusuporta sa kampanya na palayain si Mary Jane Veloso.###