Baybayin gets warm welcome in Dubai even among Arabs
Gino Palima Banola, a Filipino 3D designer in Dubai, has been promoting the ancient Filipino script here among diverse audiences

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/baybayin-warm-welcome-dubai-united-arab-emirates/

JUST IN: The Philippines and Indonesia have "been engaged in discussions" regarding the possible transfer of Mary Jane Veloso to the Philippines to serve the rest of her sentence in a Philippine facility, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirms.

"The DFA joins the Filipino nation in the hope and prayers for a successful resolution of this issue, one which shall do justice to Ms. Veloso and her family while strengthening the deep bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Indonesia," the DFA says. @here

Spoke to Atty Edre Olalia earlier, one of Mary Jane's private lawyers, about the possible scenarios if the transfer pushes through: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/scenarios-mary-jane-veloso-case-if-transferred-from-indonesia/

What could happen to Mary Jane Veloso’s case if she is transferred to PH?
One of Mary Jane Veloso's lawyers, Edre Olalia, says her possible transfer would bring about a 'unique legal situation' since Indonesia handed down the death penalty, but no such penalty exists in the Philippines

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/scenarios-mary-jane-veloso-case-if-transferred-from-indonesia/

BREAKING. Mary Jane Veloso, an overseas Filipino worker who has been on death row in Indonesia for over a decade, is coming home. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announces this in a statement on Wednesday, November 20, after reaching an agreement with the Indonesian government.

Story to follow on rplr.co/philippines @here

Read more in @Bea Cupin's full story: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mary-jane-veloso-returning-home/

Edre Olalia, part of the team of Mary Jane Veloso’s private legal counsels and chairperson of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, is "exultant" about the news of the OFW coming home.

Hello everyone!

We at Migrante International join the family of Mary Jane Veloso in welcoming the good news that she will finally return home after 14 long years. We are elated that Mary Jane will be one step closer in her long, arduous journey to freedom.

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to all of Mary Jane’s supporters who came from all over the world, who believed Mary Jane’s story as a victim of human trafficking and stood alongside her family in their pursuit of justice throughout all these years. Since 2015, migrant and human rights advocates and organizations successfully campaigned to save her life from execution and have relentlessly pushed for clemency for Mary Jane as a victim of human trafficking. We were all part of this long journey and contributed greatly to this victory.

We recognize the initiative of both the Philippine and Indonesian Governments in their efforts to pursue political and diplomatic solutions to address the plight of Mary Jane. We also acknowledge the initiatives of the Philippine Government for working towards this agreement of ‘transfer of custory’ and in appealing for clemency for Mary Jane.

It is our hope that Mary Jane will soon safely reunite with her entire family. We call on the Marcos Jr. Administration to grant Mary Jane immediate clemency upon her return home to the Philippines under humanitarian grounds and as a victim of human trafficking.

Welcome to the chat, and thank you for sharing this @Joanna - Migrante International !

DFA's USec de Vega says discussions started a few weeks ago and explains that this is part of a bigger effort of Indonesia — to return some foreign prisoners to their home countries. "Once she is here, we are least assured that there will be death penalty. And we would, under principles of international law, have some right to refuse if the Indonesians want her back. But that's precisely a sign that [Indonesia does not want to execute] Ms Veloso and we thank them for that."

Is Mary Jane saved from the death row?

De Vega: Nothing is 100%. Pero the fact that Indonesia is talking to us about transferring, is the most probable indication that they have no intent to execute her. And obviously, once she's here, she is completely ligtas.

Mary Jane still has a case against her traffickers in a Nueva Ecija RTC. She was supposed to give her deposition from Indonesia, but it stalled for a long time because of requirements by the Indonesian government, such as the presence of a judge, according to DOJ Asec Mico Clavano. It will be easier for the case to progress once she is in the Philippines.

De Vega: Indonesia is not surrendering its jurisdiction over the case, but that they already are conceding that there will be no execution. And that’s still a major concession. Kaya nagpapasalamat tayo sa Indonesia.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega says the Indonesian government did not request anything in return for agreeing to transfer overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso to Philippine authorities.

De Vega adds that Veloso will not be immediately released when she returns to the Philippines.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday, November 20, that overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso will return home.

Once Veloso lands in the Philippines, she will not be immediately released, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

What do you think should be the next steps in Veloso's case? Let's talk about it @here.

In Case You Missed It: Did you know that Mary Jane Veloso has been on death row in Indonesia for over a decade after being arrested in 2010 for drug trafficking? She is now set to return to the Philippines thanks to diplomatic efforts between the two nations.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/mary-jane-veloso-returning-home/

Once Mary Jane Veloso returns, no release yet, but safe from death penalty
The Philippines and Indonesia still have to iron out the details of Mary Jane Veloso’s transfer

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/once-mary-jane-veloso-returns-no-release-yet-safe-death-penalty/

Rappler Recap: Mary Jane Veloso to return to PH, but won’t be free yet
Here's a recap of the Mary Jane Veloso case and what happens now that she will return to the Philippines

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/recap-mary-jane-veloso-to-return-not-free-yet/

In Case You Missed It: Did you know that Mary Jane Veloso has been on Indonesia's death row for over a decade, and her family is advocating for her clemency and safety upon her return to the Philippines?

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/overseas-filipinos/mary-jane-veloso-father-to-marcos-keep-her-safe-place/