The facade of the Commission on Human Rights office in Quezon City. —File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the government on Friday to protect migrant Filipino workers in the same way it came to aid Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia who spent over 14 years in prison for drug trafficking.
Veloso was brought home to the Philippines on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the fruit of years of diplomacy between Jakarta and Manila.
“It is crucial that the government continues to extend the same protection and diplomatic efforts afforded to Veloso to other Filipino workers in similar situations,” the CHR said in a statement.
“In line with the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, the state has an obligation to ensure the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of its citizens working overseas,” it added.
Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, after being found possessing over 2.6 kilograms of heroin at the Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
She was set to be executed on April 29, 2015.
However, she was spared at the last minute to become a witness in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) case against the West African Drug Syndicate, following appeals from then-President Benigno Aquino III to the Indonesian government.
Two Philippine administrations later, in November 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the DFA announced Veloso’s long-awaited homecoming.
CHR commended the efforts, saying: “This achievement reflects the government’s deep commitment to valuing human life and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens.”
“Veloso’s case is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities many migrant workers face, particularly those preyed upon by criminal syndicates exploiting their aspirations for a better future,” it added.