By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday thanked the Indonesian government for facilitating the return of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines.
Veloso arrived in the country Wednesday morning.
“We take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the Indonesian government and to all who have extended assistance for the welfare of Ms. Mary Jane Veloso,” Marcos said in a statement.
“The Philippine government welcomes the imminent transfer of Ms. Veloso, which was made possible by our strong friendship and cooperation with the Indonesian government.”
He said the agencies in the justice and law enforcement sector would continue to ensure Veloso’s safety, considering that the Indonesian counterparts “have safeguarded it for so long.”
He made the assurance as he stressed that Veloso’s welfare is “paramount.”
Veloso was turned over to the custody of Philippine officials on Tuesday evening.
She was accompanied by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
According a BuCor news release, Veloso arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City at about 5:51 a.m. on board Cebu Pacific flight 5J 760.
Upon arrival at the airport, Veloso was immediately brought to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City where she will be mandatorily housed at the Reception and Diagnostic Center for a five-day quarantine and a 55-day orientation, diagnostic evaluation, and initial security classification.
Veloso was jailed in 2010 and was sentenced to death in the same year after 2.6 kg. of heroin was found in her suitcase.
She was given a last-minute reprieve in April 2015 when Manila informed Jakarta that her recruiters had surrendered. (PNA)
