The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that Mary Jane Veloso will return to the Philippines on December 18.
DFA Undersecretary Tess Lazaro announced that Veloso is expected to arrive in the country at around 6:00 AM.
Veloso, 39, was arrested in 2010 in Indonesia for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin and has been detained since.
Her execution was halted in 2015 after Indonesian President Joko Widodo acknowledged her case as a possible instance of human trafficking.
In June 2023, Veloso’s family visited her in Yogyakarta, and in January, they appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for clemency.
In November, President Marcos announced an agreement with Indonesia to transfer Veloso to the Philippines, thanking Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto for his cooperation.
Veloso’s parents have requested that she be placed in a high-security facility upon her return due to concerns about potential threats from international drug syndicates.