Bishop prays for Veloso’s transfer to Philippine jail

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is seeking divine intervention for the transfer of Mary Jane Veloso to a Philippine jail.

Veloso has been on death row in Indonesia since 2015 following her conviction for drug trafficking.

Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos, vice chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, asked Filipinos to pray for Veloso to be allowed to return home and serve her remaing prison term in a local jail.

“As we continue to follow the case of Mary Jane Veloso, who has been imprisoned in Indonesia for over a decade, we find ourselves at a crucial moment. The possibility of her transfer to a Philippine prison is now being considered, offering a glimmer of hope for her and her family,” Santos said.

He encouraged the public to stand in solidarity with Veloso and her loved ones.

Santos said prayers should also be offered for people tasked to decide on the fate of Veloso.

He said Veloso has endured hardships but has shown resilience for many years, and her story is a reminder of the importance of compassion, justice and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Indonesia is reportedly considering transferring Veloso to a prison in the Philippines.

Reports said Jakarta is leaving it up to the Philippines to decide whether to give Veloso clemency.

Veloso was arrested for drug trafficking in 2010 at the Yogyakarta Airport after authorities found 2.6 kilos of heroin in her suitcase.

In 2015, she was spared from execution after then president Benigno Aquino III appealed to then Indonesian president Joko Widodo.