BY DANIE MAE FAJARDO-DELA CRUZ
MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) prefers labor diplomacy to add more safeguards and ensure that justice is pursued on behalf of slain domestic worker Jullebee Ranara in Kuwait, said Secretary Susan Ople.
Ranara’s charred body, with the skull smashed, was recovered by the Kuwaiti police at the Salmi, Al-Jarah Governorate on Jan. 21.
The suspect was the 17-year-old son of Ranara’s employer. He was arrested.
This incident sparked calls for the suspension of labor deployment to Kuwait.
“We appreciate the good intentions behind the calls to impose a deployment ban to Kuwait. But I have always believed in social dialog as the all-important first step in resolving labor migration concerns,” said Ople.
The DMW secretary acknowledged the quick response of the Kuwaiti authorities on Ranara’s case.
“The principal suspect was arrested less than 24 hours after Jullebee’s body was discovered,” said Ople.
There is a working, productive relationship between the Philippines and Kuwait that can be further enhanced not by imposing a deployment ban but by revisiting the existing Bilateral Labor Agreement (BLA), according to Ople.
“A new BLA would extend additional protection for our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). We can accomplish more to protect our workers with the cooperation of the Kuwaiti government,” said the Secretary.
She assured those pressing for a labor deployment ban that the DMW is not insensitive to such calls.
“It only means that for now, we wish to resort to labor diplomacy to add more safeguards and ensure that justice is pursued on behalf of Jullebee and her family,” explained Ople.
Ranara’s remains were scheduled to arrive in the country last night, Friday, Jan. 27.
Ople earlier said Ranara’s mother was initially informed by the victim that she was being threatened by her employer’s son.
Ranara’s employer agreed to shoulder the cost of repatriating Ranara’s remains.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait has provided a lawyer to handle Ranara’s case and would continue to work with Kuwaiti authorities to bring justice to the slain Filipina./PN
