Mary Jane Veloso on her freedom, family reunion: 'Ito 'yung araw na pinakahihintay ko'

Former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso expressed her joy after she was granted absolute pardon, released from prison and reunited with her family.

In a press conference, Veloso was asked how she felt upon seeing her kin following her release.

“Namamaga na po ang mata ko. Kasi sa sobrang saya, kasama iyak. Kasi sabi ko nga po na ito ‘yung araw na pinakahihintay ko. At dumating na po siya, ibinigay na po sa akin ni God," Veloso said.

(My eyes are already swollen. Because I was so happy, I also cried. Because I said this was the day I had been waiting for. And it has arrived, God has given it to me.)

"Kaya sobrang masayang-masaya. Hindi po siya maipapaliwanag lang ng salita. Pero sa kilos naman po siguro namin, alam po ninyo na sobrang halaga ng araw po na ito sa amin lahat,” she added.

(That's why I'm so happy. Words can't explain it. Perhaps through our actions, you know that this day is very important for all of us.)

Veloso had an emotional reunion with her family early Saturday. Mary Jane's family members were fetched from Nueva Ecija and brought to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City to meet her.

Following their reunion, Mary Jane said she currently has no plans but to rest and be with her family.

“Pahinga po muna. ‘Yun po kasi una talagang gagawin, pahinga po muna. Pero po pahihintulutan po ng Panginoong Diyos, baka po bukas magsimba kami,”

(I’ll rest first. That's what I'll do first, to rest first. But God willing, maybe we'll go to Church tomorrow.)

Asked what they will eat as a family once they return home, Mary Jane answered, “Pinakbet! Inihaw na isda tsaka pinakbet po. Para healthy naman ‘yung pagkain ko. Kasi po mahilig ako mag-noodles noong nasa CIW ako.”

(Pinakbet! Grilled fish and pinakbet. So that my food will be healthy. Because I was taking noodles when I was in CIW.)

“Pero ‘yung Pinakbet kasi nina nanay, nina ate, magagaling po sila magluto ‘yung pamilya ko. Ako lang po ‘di marunong magluto. Masarap po ‘yung kanilang pinakbet,” she added.

(My mother's and my sister's Pinakbet is good, my family is good with cooking. I'm the only one who doesn't know how to cook. Their Pinakbet is delicious.)

CIW

Asked about her unforgettable memory during her stay at the CIW, Mary Jane said: “Pag-aaral (Studies).

“Kasi po nu’ng nasa Indonesia ko, hindi ko po natutukan ‘yung pag-aaral doon… Hindi po siya katulad ng sa Pilipinas na talagang ang prioridad po nila ay edukasyon. Sa Indonesia po kasi ang prioridad nila talaga ay livelihood,” she said.

(Because when I was in Indonesia, I was not able to focus on my studies ... It's not like in the Philippines where education is a priority. In Indonesia, their priority is livelihood.)

During her timeint prison, Mary Jane said she was granted Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) and underwent TASTM (Time Allowance for Study, Teaching, and Mentoring).

“Napilitan po ako talaga noong una. Sinabi ko din po na napilitan ako. Pero parang ayoko talaga. Pero maniwala man po kayo sa hindi, na-enjoy ko ‘yung pag-aaral ko… Sa English lang talaga ako medyo mahina. Pero sa Math, sa Science, enjoy po ako.”

(I was hesitant to go at first. I also said that I was forced. It's like I really didn't want to. But believe it or not, I enjoyed my studies… I'm not so good with English. But in Math, in Science, I enjoyed it.)

Mary Jane was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage. She was sentenced to death by an Indonesian court on October 11, 2010.

She has consistently maintained her innocence, saying she was unknowingly used as a drug courier after being given a suitcase by her recruiters.

Her execution was halted in April 2015 after the Philippine government appealed to Indonesian authorities to allow her to testify against her alleged recruiters.

In December 2024, Indonesia agreed to transfer Mary Jane to Philippine custody following years of diplomatic negotiations. She arrived in the Philippines on December 18, 2024, and was transferred to CIW to serve the remainder of her sentence under Philippine jurisdiction.

Mary Jane was formally released from CIW on Friday after the necessary procedures were completed. —VAL, GMA News