A senior minister defended the decision to send Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina domestic worker who has been on Indonesia’s death row for 14 years, back to the Philippines amid questions about the legal basis and benefits to Indonesia transfer of prisoners.

Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday, saying Veloso is “returning home” after more than a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government.

The decision to return Veloso was quickly questioned by experts, who questioned the legal basis for such a decision.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Yusril Ihza Mahendra acknowledged the absence of such regulations. However, he defended this policy, saying that a transfer of prisoners could be carried out at the discretion of a sitting president; in this case, President Prabowo Subianto.

Measures to extradite foreign nationals convicted in Indonesia to their country of origin could be taken into account within the framework of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters with a partner country. It is also within the power of the President to make any decision based on mutual benefits, considerations of humanity and human rights, as well as relations with the country in question, despite the absence of regulations on the matter.

“Because the law does not regulate or restrict these matters, the president has the discretion to act accordingly,” Yusril was quoted as saying in a statement released on Friday.