MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
May 8, 2026
Two days ahead of Mother’s Day, Celia and Cesar Veloso, parents of Mary Jane Veloso filed a Motion for Resolution today before the Supreme Court of the Philippines urging the High Court to act on a Petition for the Writ of Habeas Corpus that has remained pending for nearly six months since its filing on November 14, 2025. The Petition, docketed as G.R. No. E-03341 (UDK), questions the legality of Mary Jane Veloso’s continued detention at the Correctional Institute for Women (CIW).
Celia Veloso declared, “Nandito muli kami para iparating sa Korte Suprema na inosente at biktima lamang ang aming anak. Sa loob ng labing anim na taong pagkulong ni Mary Jane, hindi ako tumigil na ipaglaban ang kanyang buhay at kalayaan. Masakit sa akin bilang ina na makita ang anak ko na nananatiling nakapiit ng walang kasalanan. Isang mapagmahal na ina si Mary Jane at pangarap niya na makamit ang hustisya at makapiling ang kanyang mga anak. Nananawagan kami kay Pangulong Marcos na ipagkaloob na niya ang matagal na naming hinihiling na clemency para kay Mary Jane.”
Accompanying Mary Jane’s parents are their lawyers from the National Union of People’s Lawyers who assisted the family with the filing of the Motion.
“Today, we accompany our clients, the parents of human trafficking victim, Mary Jane Veloso, to bring to the Supreme Court’s attention their appeal to urgently look into their petition for habeas corpus filed five months ago, in November 2025, in behalf of Mary Jane Veloso. It is the unflinching position of Mary Jane that her continued incarceration at the Correctional Institute for Women, despite the absence of any judgment, treaty, or legislative authority in the Philippines expressly supporting the continued enforcement of Indonesia’s penal judgment, violates her basic human rights. As a recognized victim of trafficking, Mary Jane’s unjustified deprivation of liberty remains a continuing injustice that must be rectified forthwith,” stated Atty. Kathy Panguban, head of NUPL’s Women and Children Committee
The filing of the Motion also comes at the second day of the 48th ASEAN Summit hosted by President Marcos Jr. in Cebu where ASEAN state leaders gather to tackle issues of shared interests including the issue of migrant workers in the region.
“Mary Jane’s plight and story is emblematic of the struggles of thousands of Filipino migrant workers who are exploited, trafficked, and made vulnerable because of the Philippine Government’s refusal to address the root causes of poverty and forced migration. Any committments President Marcos makes during the ASEAN Summit to protect migrant workers and combat human trafficking in the region will ring hollow if he continues to ignore the calls for clemency and immediate freedom for Mary Jane. His inaction in Mary Jane’s case sends a message to all our migrant workers that the PH government denies them their basic human rights and justice they deserve,” said Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of Migrante International
More than one year since Mary Jane Veloso’s transfer and detention at CIW on December 18, 2024, and a decade since the global campaign saved Mary Jane’s life, migrant and advocate groups remain unwavering and steadfast in their pursuit for justice and freedom for Mary Jane.
###
