Villar: Freedom for OFW and attention to others in death row

Senate President Manny Villar welcomed the grant of commutation of sentence to 34-year-old Filipino maid Marilou Ranario by Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah following an appeal by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Villar, however, emphasized that government efforts should not cease until the best welfare of Ranario is attained.

"We look forward to the eventual freedom of Ranario and her reunification with her anxious family in the country," the Senate President said.

He added, "It is extremely difficult to be separated from a loved one due to work abroad, how much more with the knowledge that she is in distress."

Ranario, who holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education, decided to leave for Kuwait in December 2003 to work as a domestic helper. She reportedly stabbed to death her female Kuwaiti employer on Jan. 10, 2005 for maltreatment.

The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Surigao del Norte was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging on Sept. 28, 2005 by the Kuwaiti Court of First Instance, Criminal Circuit. The case was elevated to the Court of Cassation or the Supreme Court of Kuwait, which also affirmed the death penalty on Nov. 27.

Villar likewise emphasized that the government must give equal attention to 26 other OFWs who are languishing in jails abroad and awaiting execution.

We should avoid resorting to last-ditch efforts which compromise the safety and security of our OFWs, Villar underscored.

"Our embassies carry the tremendous responsibility of looking after our distressed OFWs, which necessitates hard work at the earliest time of turmoil faced by our countrymen abroad," the Nacionalista Party president reminded.

Villar himself recently helped in the repatriation of eight minor wards of the Filipino Workers Resource Center in Amman, Jordan. One of these is Nisan Labay who arrived on Nov. 23.

The Senate President also underscored the need to provide counseling services to OFWs by qualified social workers as a way of aiding them and checking on their conditions.