Palace ‘seriously considering’ absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso — budget sponsor

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “seriously considering” granting absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, the Office of the President’s budget sponsor at the House of Representatives said Wednesday. 

Bataan Second District Rep. Albert Garcia issued the statement during the House plenary deliberations on the OP’s proposed 2027 budget.

Garcia said the announcement would be issued “in a few days”.

“Ang kanyang kaso ay kinilala, hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas, kundi sa buong mundo, na isang malinaw na halimbawa ng human trafficking at forced drug mule exploitation. Ano po ba ang tiyak na hakbang na ginagawa ng Office of the President upang matiyak ang kanyang agarang paglaya? …Nasa 16 na taon na po siyang nawalay sa kanyang pamilya,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago asked.

“The Office of the President 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. There will be an announcement in a few days,” Garcia replied.

“Dapat may kalakip ito na pagpapalakas din ng ating laban sa trafficking, pagpapalakas ng ating proteksyon para sa migrant workers, at higit sa lahat, pagtitiyak ng aktibo na paglikha ng mas maraming trabaho dito sa Pilipinas, trabaho na may nakabubuhay na sahod para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Elago said.

Veloso, a victim of human trafficking, was detained for over 14 years in Indonesia, where she was initially placed on death row, but was spared through then-President Benigno Aquino III’s request to then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

In December 2024, the former OFW was brought back to the Philippines and has since been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong.