A Filipina drug mule who received a last-minute pardon from the death sentence in Indonesia has returned home after 14 years in prison.

Footage shows the emotional moment Mary Jane Veloso, 39, was reunited with her family at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday morning, December 18.

Her sons, Mark Daniel and Mark Darren, ran and pulled her in a tight embrace in front of reporters and police.

The Bureau of Corrections said Mary Jane - who was caught carrying heroin in the notoriously hardline country - had arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 5:40 am local time.

She was taken straight to the women's prison, where she will be detained for quarantine, diagnostic evaluation, and security classification.

Before returning to the Philippines, Mary Jane said: 'I want to thank everyone. Thank you to President Prabowo, President Marcos. This is my new life which I'll start again in the Philippines. I have been in Indonesia for almost 15 years, I was not able to speak Indonesian back then but now I can... I am so happy today but also sad.'

The mother-of-two was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 for allegedly smuggling 6 lbs (2.6 kgs) of heroin in her luggage. She claimed she was tricked by her recruiters, who had sent her to Indonesia to work as a maid, into carrying the drugs.

She was about to be executed by firing squad in 2015, but was spared following an appeal made by former Philippine president Benigno Aquino.

The Indonesian and Philippine governments have since forged a deal for Mary Jane's repatriation. Under the agreement, she will serve the rest of her sentence in her home country. Indonesia will also respect decisions made by the Philippines, including granting her clemency.

Incumbent Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a statement: 'We assure the Filipino people that Ms Veloso's safety and welfare is paramount and our agencies in the justice and law enforcement sector shall continue to ensure it, as our Indonesian counterparts have safeguarded it for so long.'

Mary Jane's family was urging the local government to fully pardon her. However, authorities said talks of clemency were still 'premature'.

Department of Justice undersecretary Jesse Andres said: 'Let's give it the right time. Let's respect the country of Indonesia because what they want is for her to serve a life imprisonment. But it is also in our agreement that we have the right to implement the rules on executive clemency.'

The release of Mary Jane came as Indonesia also released the remaining members of the Bali Nine, a drug smuggling gang from Australia who were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms (18 lb) of heroin out of Indonesia.

Ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were executed by firing squad in April 2015 despite international pleas for clemency. One died in prison from cancer and the only female in the group had been released earlier.

The remaining five members returned home on December 15.