Indonesian authorities have facilitated the return of a Filipina woman to the Philippines after she narrowly escaped execution by firing squad in 2015. The woman, who spent nearly 15 years in an Indonesian prison for drug trafficking, was granted a last-minute reprieve. This turn of events will allow her to provide testimony exposing how a criminal syndicate deceived her into becoming an unwitting drug courier.
The woman, now being referred to as Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso, was transferred to a female prison in Jakarta before being flown back to the Philippines. This repatriation was made possible through a recent agreement signed between Indonesia and the Philippines for the transfer of prisoners.
Veloso expressed her gratitude towards Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his government for enabling her return home to serve her sentence in her own country. She mentioned her excitement about being closer to her children and family once again.
Veloso's ordeal began in 2010 when she was arrested at an airport in Yogyakarta with a significant amount of heroin hidden in her luggage. Despite being sentenced to death, she was spared execution in 2015 due to the arrest of her recruiter in the Philippines.
Indonesia, known for its strict drug laws, remains a target for international drug syndicates. The country has faced criticism for its handling of drug-related crimes, with hundreds of individuals, including foreigners, currently on death row.
In a separate development, five Australians who had been imprisoned in Indonesia for almost two decades for drug trafficking recently returned to Australia under a government-negotiated deal.
