Marcos thanks Arab states for pardoning Filipinos, but not Mary Jane Veloso

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. thanked several Arab states for granting clemency to Filipinos convicted of offenses during his fourth State of the Nation Address on Monday.

More than 600 Filipinos were pardoned by the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and other Middle Eastern nations over the past three years.

Marcos also expressed gratitude to Oman for facilitating the release of Filipino hostages held by the Houthis in Yemen since November 2023; the M/V Galaxy Leader's 17 Filipino crew members were released in January after being detained for at least 14 months.

While celebrating the freedom of these individuals, Marcos has yet to grant clemency to Mary Jane Veloso, who has been imprisoned in the Philippines since her transfer from Indonesia in December 2024.

Veloso's case has garnered significant attention and support over the past two-and-a-half administrations, with many urging President Marcos to act on her behalf.

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