Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Carmela Fonbuena in Manila

‘A living hero’: Philippines welcomes back death row survivor Mary Jane Veloso

Mary Jane Veloso arrives at the Correctional Institution for Women in Metro Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday after nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia.
Mary Jane Veloso arrives at the Correctional Institution for Women in Metro Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday after nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia. Photograph: Lisa Marie David/Reuters

After 14 years on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso arrived in Manila on Wednesday to the tight embrace of her family. Their eyes were swollen from tears of joy, yet their faces were lit up with big smiles.

It was a homecoming and family reunion that has brought early Christmas cheer to a country that has stood by her and her fight for justice. Convicted of drug trafficking in 2010, she narrowly escaped death by firing squad in April 2015. She has always maintained her innocence, saying she was duped into carrying a suitcase containing drugs as she travelled to a new job abroad.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.