Lawmakers urge Marcos Jr. to pardon Veloso

Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives filed a resolution on Wednesday urging President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to grant clemency to OFW Mary Jane Veloso.

Veloso, convicted of drug trafficking in Indonesia in 2010 and set to return to the Philippines before Christmas, is seen as a victim of human trafficking rather than a drug mule by lawmakers.

The resolution highlights that Veloso has already served 14 years and missed seeing her children grow up, emphasizing she is not a drug mule but a victim of human trafficking.

President Marcos Jr. declined to comment on Veloso's transfer, citing a request from the Indonesian government for no announcements until everything is settled.

During the filing of House Resolution 2128, Veloso’s parents and sons made an appeal to the chief executive for clemency upon her return.

Indonesia has expressed openness to the possible eventual grant of clemency to Veloso in the Philippines following years of negotiations.