Komnas HAM Applauds Absolute Pardon for Mary Jane
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has expressed its appreciation for the absolute pardon granted by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Mary Jane Veloso on 25 September 2026.
The granting of this pardon paves the way for the freedom of Mary Jane, a woman who fell victim to human trafficking.
In a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, the Chair of Komnas HAM, Anis Hidayah, stated that Mary Jane’s freedom serves as an important reminder of the necessity for robust human rights protections, particularly for migrant workers who are vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking.
“The freedom of Mary and Jane Veloso should not only be celebrated but should also serve as a concrete example of the importance of strong human rights protection by the state,” said Anis.
According to Anis, the Mary Jane case demonstrates the lengthy process involved in fulfilling the rights of human trafficking victims, as well as the inadequacy of legal frameworks in guaranteeing the protection of migrant workers’ rights.
Indonesia and the Philippines had previously agreed to the transfer of Mary Jane through the signing of a practical agreement on 6 December 2024. This agreement was part of the process that ultimately led to the absolute pardon by the Philippine Government.
Komnas HAM first received a complaint regarding the Mary Jane case in April 2015, when the woman was scheduled to undergo execution on 29 April 2015.
The execution was subsequently cancelled a few days prior by President Joko Widodo, after Maria Khristina P. Sergio, who allegedly recruited Mary Jane illegally and sent her to Indonesia, surrendered herself.
In 2015, Komnas HAM issued recommendations to the President and the Attorney General of Indonesia to thoroughly examine the case files and ensure there was no discriminatory judicial process prior to the execution. Komnas HAM also encouraged steps towards the abolition of the death penalty.
Anis emphasised that Mary Jane’s experience serves as a lesson for the state to ensure that the identification and handling of human trafficking victims are conducted appropriately, so they do not remain trapped in exploitation and prolonged suffering.
“Without strong human rights protections, the State risks failing to identify and handle victims in an appropriate and effective manner, causing victims to remain trapped in a cycle of exploitation and protracted suffering, even facing the threat of the death penalty,” she said.
Komnas HAM is urging the Indonesian Government to strengthen strategies for preventing human trafficking, protecting victims, and enforcing the law against perpetrators. Such efforts are deemed essential to provide comprehensive protection to the public, particularly vulnerable groups at risk of trafficking.
Furthermore, Komnas HAM is encouraging the government to continue its commitment towards the abolition of the death penalty by promptly issuing government regulations as derivative rules for the implementation of death penalty commutation, as stipulated in the National Criminal Code.
Komnas HAM also emphasised the importance of applying the death penalty with extreme caution and ensuring fair legal processes as part of the fulfilment of the right to a fair trial.