The Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) welcomes the announcement that Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina migrant worker who has unjustly spent 14 years on death row in Indonesia, will finally be coming home following an agreement between the Philippine government and Indonesian authorities. Although this is a significant step toward ending the years of suffering and injustice that she has endured, CWR joins rights groups’ appeal to President Marcos Jr. to grant her full and absolute clemency.
Mary Jane Veloso’s case is a tragic example of how vulnerable migrant workers—especially women—can fall victim to human trafficking and unfair legal processes. Authorities arrested Mary Jane Veloso in 2010 upon her arrival in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after finding heroin hidden in the lining of a suitcase her recruiters had provided. Convicted of illegally importing drugs, she has been on death row after enduring a series of unfair trials.
Prior to her arrest, Mary Jane worked as a domestic helper in Dubai to support her two young children. After an attempted sexual assault, she fled the country, returning home jobless and penniless. Despite the trauma, she decided to work as a maid in Malaysia. However, her recruiter instructed her to travel to Indonesia, where she received a suitcase filled with illegal drugs, as there were no jobs available in Malaysia.
Mary Jane’s case highlights the harsh realities faced by many Filipinos, particularly women, who are driven by economic hardship to work abroad—only to fall victim to human trafficking and endure inhumane working conditions. The number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) surged to 2.16 million in 2023, with women making up the majority, often subjected to precarious labor conditions.
We stand in solidarity with Mary Jane and all migrant workers and their families. Mary Jane’s execution was stayed in 2015 due to strong local and international pressure as well as the steadfast demands of the Philippine and Indonesian movements. While her return is a victory, the fight for her absolute clemency and protection of all migrant workers continues.
We call on the Philippine government to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safety and well-being of all Filipinos working overseas and, more importantly, to address the root causes of migration! #
