BY DANIE MAE FAJARDO-DELA CRUZ
MANILA – Secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Vasquez Ople of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) died on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at around 1 p.m. She was 61.
DMW announced her passing with “great sadness.”
“Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator…surrounded by her family and loved ones,” according to DMW spokesperson Toby Nebrida.
He urged the public to pray “for the eternal repose of the soul of our dear Sec. Toots. We ask as well for prayers for the Ople family.”
Just this July 25, DMW announced that Ople was taking a “much-needed” two-week wellness break following the consecutive passing of her two older brothers – former Hagonoy, Bulacan mayor Felix “Toti” Ople and former journalist Blas F. Ople Jr. both due to lung cancer.
Ople had said she needed time to grieve and be with members of her family.
“Our family lost two good men within a span of five days. They are now in a much better place, free from pain and reunited with our beloved parents and brother, Raul,” Ople had said.
DMW did not disclose the cause of Ople’s death but she was known to have battled breast cancer.
Ople was born on Feb. 9, 1962 and earned degrees from the University of Santo Tomas and the Harvard Kennedy School. She was the first Secretary of the newly-created DMW appointed only last year by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. She had also served as undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Ople was the youngest of the seven children of former senator, Labor and Foreign Affairs secretary Blas Fajardo Ople. She founded the Blas Ople Policy Center which assists distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in various parts of the world.
Ople was known for advocating the rights and welfare of OFWs, especially those being maltreated in foreign countries./PN
