Photo credit: NUPL

After nearly 15 years of imprisonment in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso is now preparing to personally testify in court for the first time against the individuals accused of recruiting her.

Veloso’s camp attended a case conference at the Department of Justice as preparations continue for the upcoming court proceedings involving alleged recruiters Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao.

Present during the meeting were Mary Jane’s parents, Celia and Cesar Veloso, along with Edre Olalia, who also serves as her legal counsel.

According to Olalia, the meeting with public prosecutors focused on preparing Veloso’s testimony before the court — a major development in a case that has drawn national and international attention for years.

Veloso was sentenced to death in Indonesia after being convicted of drug trafficking, a case she has long maintained was the result of illegal recruitment and deception. She spent almost 15 years behind bars before finally being transferred back to Philippine custody in December 2024.

Her return came after negotiations between the Philippine and Indonesian governments, which led to the signing of practical arrangements allowing Indonesia to hand over custody of Veloso to the Philippines.

The upcoming testimony is expected to become a key moment in the long-running case, as Veloso herself is finally set to directly speak before the court against the people she claims recruited and victimized her.