JurnalPost.com - Beranda Migran welcomes the release of Mary Jane Veloso after Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. confirmed the granting of an absolute pardon on Friday, (25/9/2026). After more than 16 years behind bars in two countries, Mary Jane has finally obtained the freedom that her family and solidarity networks in the Philippines, Indonesia, and various other countries have long fought for.
This release is the fruit of a long and tireless struggle waged by Mary Jane and her family, migrant worker organizations, women’s groups, civil society organizations, religious organizations, human rights groups, lawyers, activists, and international solidarity networks.
For years, from all corners of the globe, they never ceased conducting campaigns, petitions, street protests, prayer vigils, political lobbying, legal advocacy, media campaigns, international support drives, and various forms of public pressure on the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines. Even after Mary Jane was transferred from Indonesia to the Philippines in December 2024, the struggle did not stop. In June 2026, families and supporting organizations returned to the streets to demand Mary Jane’s full release, while at the same time, Mary Jane was finally able to provide testimony in the human trafficking case against her recruiter after the process had been delayed for years.
Therefore, when President Marcos finally granted the absolute pardon, the decision must be viewed within the context of a struggle that had been ongoing long before the government made its move. The government did not suddenly discover a humanitarian reason to release Mary Jane. That humanitarian justification had been voiced by the people’s movement for years.
Since Mary Jane was arrested on 2010, her family and civil society organizations have repeatedly reminded the public that her case cannot be separated from the vulnerability of female migrant workers to human trafficking, illegal recruitment, fraud, and exploitation by criminal networks. In 2015, international pressure played a role in pushing for the stay of her execution so that she could provide testimony against those suspected of recruiting and framing her.
Even after returning to the Philippines on 2024, Mary Jane’s freedom was not automatically realized. She remained in detention, and the struggle for a full pardon continued. In July 2025, for example, Mary Jane’s family, along with civil society organizations, submitted a clemency petition to the Philippine government supported by more than 13,000 signatures.
Beranda Migran pays tribute to Mary Jane’s family, who for years never stopped demanding justice. We also extend our solidarity to the migrant worker networks, women’s organizations, human rights groups, religious communities, legal networks, and all organizations and individuals in various countries who kept Mary Jane’s case alive in the public sphere and political agenda.
This victory also demonstrates the importance of organized, coordinated, and sustainable international solidarity. Mary Jane’s case proves that when various groups from different backgrounds are able to build a unified demand, maintain it for years, and continue to exert pressure on the state, changes that previously seemed impossible can occur.
Mary Jane is free not because the government finally decided to be kind. Mary Jane is free because the people never stopped demanding her freedom.
This victory must not be the end of the struggle. The Philippine government must ensure that the absolute pardon is truly translated into full restoration for Mary Jane and her family. Legal proceedings against those suspected of involvement in human trafficking and her recruitment must also continue, while guaranteeing Mary Jane’s rights and safety as a victim.
Furthermore, Mary Jane’s case must serve as a reminder to the governments of Indonesia, the Philippines, and other migrant-sending and receiving countries that the protection of migrant workers should not depend on how much public attention a case receives. There are still many migrant workers facing criminalization, detention, human trafficking, exploitation, and even the death penalty without receiving the level of support and solidarity that Mary Jane received.
Mary Jane’s release serves as a momentum to open hope for other female migrant workers facing similar situations, including those still threatened with the death penalty abroad. This moment should also encourage the Indonesian government to pay greater attention to migrant workers facing legal issues or the death penalty.
One such case is that of Merry Utami, a former Indonesian migrant worker in Taiwan who worked to support her two children. She was entangled in a narcotics case after becoming a victim of a trap set by an organized drug crime syndicate and was subsequently arrested in Indonesia. Merry Utami was sentenced to death in May 2002 before later receiving clemency through Presidential Decree Number 1/G of 2023, which commuted her sentence to life imprisonment.
Beranda Migran urges the Indonesian government to grant a full pardon and release for Merry Utami after more than 20 years of serving her prison sentence. This effort is a crucial step toward strengthening protection for migrant workers who are victims of human trafficking and drug syndicates.
The struggle does not end with Mary Jane’s freedom. The next struggle is to ensure that no more migrant workers have to wait for years or decades to obtain justice.
Comments 0
Write a Comment Share your response