'Living hero': death row survivor welcomed back to Philippines

After 14 years on death row in Indonesia, Mary Jane Veloso arrived in Manila yesterday to the tight embrace of her family.

- Carmela Fonbuena

The homecoming brought early Christmas cheer to a country that has stood by Veloso. Convicted of drug trafficking in 2010, she narrowly escaped death by firing squad in April 2015. She has always maintained her innocence, saying she was duped into carrying a suitcase containing drugs as she travelled to a new job abroad.

"I'm so happy. I'm finally back in our country," she told reporters from behind the gate of the Correctional Institution for Women where she will serve her life sentence. "I am humbly asking the president to grant me clemency."

Yesterday, groups gathered outside the correctional facility to support her call. They carried Christmas lanterns and presents labelled "clemency".

Social media was also flooded with messages of support. Veloso owes her life to a massive social media campaign to stop the execution in 2015 and the diplomatic efforts of two governments that responded to the public outcry.