Indonesia | 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s ordeal and fight for justice

MANILA, Philippines — The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker.

Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

She was sentenced to death in October – just six months after her arrest. Indonesia’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty in May 2011.

Her execution was stayed on April 29, 2015, giving her family and supporters hope for eventual justice.

After 14 long years, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed on Wednesday, November 20, that Veloso would be sent back to the Philippines from Indonesia.

Veloso’s story has been marked by legal appeals, international diplomacy, and public outcry, highlighting the struggles of migrant workers caught in dire circumstances abroad.

The following timeline outlines the key events in Veloso’s case, based on INQUIRER.net’s archives and previous statements from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.

2010

January – Veloso returned to the Philippines after working 10 months as a domestic worker in Dubai. She left her job early after her employer attempted to rape her.

April 18 – Veloso’s friend Maria Kristina “Tintin” Sergio promised her a job as a domestic worker in Malaysia.

April 22 – Veloso and Sergio traveled to Malaysia. Upon arrival, Sergio told Veloso that the job was no longer available but assured her she could find work elsewhere. A few days later, Sergio sent Veloso to Indonesia, allegedly for a seven-day holiday, before returning to Malaysia for work.

April 25 – Veloso was apprehended at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for alleged possession of 2.6 kilograms of heroin.

April 27 – Veloso’s parents were informed by her in-laws that she had arrived safely in Malaysia. They visited Sergio, who assured them that Veloso’s employer was “very kind” and gave them clothes and milk, reportedly from Veloso for her youngest son, Mark Darren.

May 11 – Veloso’s sister, Darling, received a cryptic text from Veloso asking her to take care of her children.

May 12 – Veloso sent another cryptic message to her sister, prompting a call in which Veloso revealed that she was in jail. She detailed what happened before her arrest.

May 13 – Veloso’s family confronted Sergio, who warned them to stay silent, avoid the media, and comply with the syndicate’s demands to avoid danger. Sergio claimed that she belonged to an international drug syndicate that would spend millions to free Veloso.

August – Veloso’s family sought help from the media, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and local authorities despite Sergio’s threats. The DFA promised assistance, but the National Bureau of Investigation said no complaints could be filed against Sergio due to insufficient evidence.

October 4 – Indonesian public prosecutor Sri Anggraeni recommended life imprisonment for Veloso during a hearing at Sleman District Court. Court-appointed lawyer Edy Haryanto represented Veloso.

October 11 – The district court of justice of Sleman in Yogyakarta sentenced Veloso to death.

October 22 – The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta reportedly filed an appeal with the appeals court of Yogyakarta.

October 27 – The Philippine Embassy recommended hiring a private lawyer for Veloso. The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs authorized $5,000 from the legal assistance fund for Rudyantho & Partners Law Office to handle her appeal.

2011

February 10 – The Yogyakarta court of appeals upheld Veloso’s death sentence.

February 21 – Veloso’s lawyer Rudyantho, who was hired by the Philippine Embassy, filed an appeal with the Indonesian Supreme Court.

February 22 – The Philippine Embassy reportedly appealed the case before the Supreme Court in Jakarta.

May 31 – The Supreme Court in Jakarta upheld Veloso’s death penalty.

August 23 – Then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III requested clemency for Veloso from then-Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono, who imposed a moratorium on executions during his term.

October 10 – Then-Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Rosario Aguinaldo forwarded Aquino’s letter of clemency to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2012

October 11 – Veloso called her family in distress, pleading for help after learning her sentence was upheld in all courts. The family sought confirmation from the DFA, but case officer Patricia Mocom initially denied the claim.

October 12 – The DFA confirmed Veloso’s pending execution to her family.

2013

April – Veloso called her parents and told them to apply for passports, saying her police friends Puri and Buta and fellow inmates would sponsor their visit to see her in jail.

June 5 – Veloso’s parents and eldest son, Mark Danielle, traveled to Indonesia and visited her daily during their month-long stay.

June 29 – Veloso’s parents and son returned to Manila.

2014

December 30 – Then-Indonesian President Joko Widodo issued Presidential Decision 31/G – 2014, denying the request for clemency on behalf of Veloso.

2015

January 19 – Veloso’s lawyer Rudyantho filed a judicial review application of Veloso’s case at the Sleman district court in Yogyakarta.

January 28 – Then-Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario handed a letter to Indonesian counterpart Minister Retno Marsudi at the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers Retreat, requesting consideration for Veloso’s judicial review.

February 4 – Marsudi replied to Del Rosario, ensuring that all available legal measures would follow Indonesian laws.

February 9 – Then-President Aquino reportedly appealed Veloso’s case to then-Indonesian President Widodo during the latter’s state visit to the Philippines.

February 16 – The DFA sent a copy of Aquino’s letter to Widodo, on the petition of Veloso’s judicial review, to both the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta.

Death row isolation cells on Nusakambangan Penal island Indonesia

February 18 – Veloso’s parents, sister Maritess, and her two sons visited her in Indonesia through the DFA.

February 22 – The family returned to the Philippines. Prior to this, Chito Mendoza of the Philippine Embassy asked for Veloso’s handwritten affidavit from her sister Maritess.

March 3 – The Sleman district court held the first hearing for Veloso’s judicial review. The defense cited issues with trial proceedings in 2010, including problems in translations, unqualified court-appointed translators, and language barrier.

March 4 – The lower court ordered the case files to be endorsed to the Supreme Court in Jakarta to proceed with the judicial review.

March 25 – The Indonesian Supreme Court rejects the petition for judicial review.

April 21 – Amid news of Veloso’s impending execution, Malacañang reiterated that the Philippines is not giving up on her.

April 22 – Then-President Aquino wrote his third letter to Widodo requesting clemency, while then-Vice President Jejomar Binay traveled to Indonesia to appeal her case.

April 25 – Veloso was transferred from Yogyakarta to Nusakambangan Island in Central Java for her scheduled execution.

April 28 – Veloso’s recruiters Sergio and an accomplice identified as Julius Lacanilao surrendered to authorities, citing death threats as the reason for seeking protection.

April 29 – Veloso was granted a last-minute reprieve from execution around 1 a.m. She became a witness in the DFA’s case against the West African Drug Syndicate.

2016

September 12 – Then-President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly gave the Indonesian government the “go-ahead” on Veloso’s execution.

2018

January 10 – On her 33rd birthday, Veloso sought Duterte’s help to let her testify against those who tricked her into smuggling drugs.

2020

January 30 – A court in Nueva Ecija convicted Veloso’s recruiters Sergio and Lacanilao for large-scale illegal recruitment in a separate case involving three other women.

2022

September 4 – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left for Indonesia for his first state visit, where he discussed Veloso’s case with then-Indonesian President Widodo.

2023

June – Veloso’s family visited her in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, spending two days with her in Wonosari, where she is detained.

2024

November 19 – The DFA confirmed that the Philippine and Indonesian governments have discussed transferring Veloso to a detention facility in Manila.

November 20 – President Marcos announced that Veloso will be repatriated to the Philippines from Indonesia.

December 16 – Veloso was moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, ahead of her scheduled return to the Philippines on December 18, as confirmed by the DFA.

Source: globalnation.inquirer.net, J. Manalo, December 17, 2024

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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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