Gabriela: Absolute pardon for Mary Jane Veloso a result of long, relentless fight for justice

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The granting of absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso is victory built on decades long of fight for freedom of justice, House Assistant Minority Leader Sarah Elago of Gabriela party-list said Friday.

Elago, who was one of those who called for absolute pardon for Veloso from the get go, issued the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he already signed the papers granting absolute pardon to Veloso, who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in Indonesia in 2010.

Her death sentence was commuted in 2015 following a strong appeal from then President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, but it was only in December 2024 when Indonesian authorities agreed to transfer custody over Veloso to the Philippines on the appeal of President Marcos, Jr.

It was later learned that drug traffickers gave Veloso a suitcase as a gift, with Veloso unaware that the drugs were sewn and kept in the hem of the said suitcase’s zipper.

“Hindi kusang-loob na dumating ang kalayaan ni Mary Jane. Pinaglaban ito ng kanyang pamilya, mga migranteng Pilipino, taong simbahan, human rights defenders, women’s groups, lawyers, at mamamayang patuloy na nanindigan kahit ilang taon nang tila walang kasiguruhan ang kanyang paglaya,” Elago said.

(Her freedom was not given freely. Her family, migrant Filipinos church members, human rights defenders, women’s groups, lawyers, and all those who stood for her freedom. )

“Ang bawat pagkilos, protesta, petisyon, panawagan at pagtindig para kay Mary Jane ay bahagi ng tagumpay na ito,” Elago added.

(Every action, protest, petition standing up for Mary Jane’s freedom brought us to this victory.)

Moreover, Elago said that Veloso should have long been released, given that she was a victim of human trafficking.

“Her freedom is recognition of correcting the injustice done to Mary Jane,” Elago said.

Elago, however, said that the government’s job is not over with the granting of absolute pardon to Veloso.

“Mary Jane’s case is a reflection of a system that forces millions of Filipinos to work abroad due to lack of decent jobs, low wages and poverty. As long as these systems exist, our people will remain at risk of falling victims to human trafficking and other forms of abuse,” Elago said.

“Gabriela’s call for accountability for human traffickers, protection of migrant Filipino workers and end of such oppressive system stands,” Elago added. — RSJ, GMA News