Mary Jane Veloso. ARCHIVE

Mary Jane Veloso, a 39-year-old Filipina mother of two who has been on death row in Indonesia since 2010, has been transferred to Jakarta in preparation for her repatriation to the Philippines. This follows a landmark agreement between the Indonesian and Philippine governments earlier this month. Veloso was moved from Wirogunan Women’s Prison in Yogyakarta province late Sunday (December 15) to a detention facility in Jakarta. Her transfer is a precursor to her long-anticipated return to her home country, which could happen as early as Tuesday (December 17). Veloso was convicted after 2.6kg of heroin was discovered in the lining of her suitcase at Yogyakarta airport in 2010. Her case sparked widespread outrage in the Philippines, where many believe she was duped by an international drug syndicate. Speaking in her first media interview on Friday, Veloso described her impending release as a "miracle" and credited the tireless efforts of her family, supporters, and the Philippine government. "I never thought this day would come. My faith kept me strong all these years," Veloso said. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has remained tight-lipped about the exact timeline, with spokesman Roy Soemirat stating, "We don’t yet have formal information from law enforcement agencies regarding the details of her transfer." The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta has yet to comment. Veloso narrowly escaped execution in 2015 after her alleged recruiter was apprehended in the Philippines, opening the possibility of her innocence. Advocacy groups and human rights organizations rallied around her, citing her case as a glaring example of human trafficking. Her family in Nueva Ecija, Philippines, has expressed relief and joy at the news. "We've been waiting for this moment for over a decade. We thank everyone who supported Mary Jane," said her father, Cesar Veloso. ICA/Expat Media
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