Migrante International
Press statement
February 11, 2026
Migrante International rebukes Malacañang Palace for claiming that Mary Jane Veloso was airing her sentiments to social media in penning an open letter to her supporters. It is demeaning enough for Marcos Jr. to keep Mary Jane behind bars for being a victim of human trafficking–it is another cruelty to deny her the right to express gratitude to the public and appeal for freedom on humanitarian grounds.
Malacañang Palace said that it is better for Mary Jane to write directly to Marcos instead. She and her family already reached out to Malacañang multiple times. Mary Jane was clear in her appeal for freedom when she was returned to the Philippines on December 18, 2024. On Mary Jane’s 40th birthday, January 10, 2025, the Veloso family submitted a letter appealing for clemency, along with thousands of petition signatures for Mary Jane’s freedom. They went back on July 4 to submit even more petitions, together totaling 13,537 signatures. Through her family and supporters, Mary Jane has already made more than enough appeals to Marcos. All that came back to her were vague claims that he was looking into the issue.
Marcos’ hollow promises to study Mary Jane’s case are not enough. What she needs, what her thousands of supporters around the world demand, is freedom and justice. Mary Jane’s testimony and case against her traffickers should suffer no more delays. Her habeas corpus petition should proceed and be heard. And she should be granted the freedom she deserves. We stand with Mary Jane Veloso in her aspiration to reunite in the free embrace of her parents and children while they still can.
