DOJ considers clemency for Mary Jane Veloso

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would consider 'the totality of the circumstances' when recommending executive clemency for Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker sentenced to death in Indonesia for heroin possession in 2010.

Veloso arrived at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday morning and will serve part of her sentence there as per agreement with Indonesia.

Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres stated that the Board of Pardons and Parole must study Veloso's case before recommending clemency to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing adherence to legal procedures.

Veloso, who spent nearly 15 years on death row in Indonesia, is now entitled to good conduct time allowance (GCTA) like other prisoners, which can reduce her sentence for exemplary behavior.

The DOJ will continue to study the application of GCTA and other processes relevant to Veloso's case, as she is the first Filipino to have served a prison term abroad before returning to the Philippines.