Press Release
November 27, 2007

Press statement of Senate President Manny Villar on Ranario's
death sentence

Sa ibinabang hatol ng Korte Suprema ng Kuwait na bitay sa OFW na si Marilou Ranario, hindi dapat panghinaan ng loob ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas upang mailigtas pa ang ating kababayan na nasa bingit ng kamatayan. Habang nabubuhay si Marilou, naniniwala ako na hindi dapat magwakas ang tulong ng gobyerno.

We must respect the ruling of the Cassation Court which was decided under existing laws of Kuwait. I urge the government to continue to exert the legal options that remain, including an appeal for clemency to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Sabah.

Marilou, who was a teacher before going to Kuwait to serve as a domestic helper puts a face to the plight of countless other Filipinos who leave the country for better opportunities abroad. Many of our kababayan chose to swallow the bitter pill of separation from their loved ones in order to ensure a better future for the family.

Many of them are like Marilou, degree holders and working as professionals, who chose to perform more difficult jobs such as those in domestic servitude abroad.

May this unfortunate incident involving a Filipino worker in a foreign land not divide us as a nation but rather unite us in praying for the release and eventual repatriation of Marilou as we also extend our sympathies to her family during this trying time.

Marilou�fs fate should serve as a lesson to all of us in government as we revisit and reformulate legislation that will provide better protection for our modern heroes, the Filipinos working abroad.

News Latest News Feed