Mary Jane Veloso is set to return to the Philippines in the early hours of December 18, Wednesday, as confirmed by a senior Indonesian official today, December 16.
According to a Reuters report, Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, a deputy of Indonesia’s senior minister for law and human rights, confirmed this development during a press conference. Veloso is scheduled to return to the Philippines at 12:50am on Wednesday.
Last month, Indonesia had agreed to repatriate Veloso, a former Filipina domestic helper who was arrested in Yogyakarta and sentenced to death in 2010 for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her suitcase.
She was recently transferred to a facility in Jakarta, from where she will be flown to the Philippines. In a statement, the Yogyakarta Class IIB Correctional Facility and Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction confirmed Veloso’s transfer.
Her admission process included a health check, administrative verification, and the signing of a handover report. Following the completion of these procedures, Veloso was assigned to her designated housing unit, the statement said.
Several officials from the Philippines, including representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Corrections, and the National Bureau of Investigation, are traveling to Jakarta this evening to pick up Veloso.
Veloso’s family was scheduled to visit her in Yogyakarta from December 16 to 18 but was informed yesterday, December 15, that their planned trip would be canceled.
Related story: Family of Mary Jane Veloso receives update on her transfer to the Philippines; visit to Indonesia cancelled
