Initially, Rosario said that he did not tell the children about their mother’s real condition in Kuwait. But they later found out about Marilou’s detention because neighbors started talking about her after it was publicized.

“Umiiyak sila, bakit daw nakakulong mama nila (They were crying, asking why their mother is imprisoned),” Rosario said, adding that the children seem to always worry their mother’s safety. He said that they always ask him when their mother could go home, saying they love her very much.

Visit Marilou

“Payat na siya, mahina na pananalita, pinipilit lang niya magsalita dahil naroon kami (She is already thin, her voice is weak and she only tries to speak because we are there),” Rosario said of his daughter when he and wife Encarnacion visited Marilou in Kuwait in April 2006.

Last September, Marilou was able to send a letter to his father through the DFA. But Rosario was only saddened when he read Marilou’s statement that she was allegedly framed up. “Kung ganoon, wala talaga siyang kasalanan (If that’s the case, then she is not at fault),” Rosario said.

He also got worried when he learned that Marilou doubts if her case is really being monitored by the Philippine government. “Sa sitwasyon ko naman dito sa dinadalawan ninyo sa akin okey lang naman kaya lang, Itay, gusto ko kasing magbakasyon sa atin sa Pilipinas. Ang problema, hindi ko alam kung inaasikaso ba ako ng Philippine Embassy dito (My situation in the place where you visit me is fine but, father, I want to spend my vacation in the Philippines. The problem is, I do not know if the Philippine embassy is doing something about my case here),” she wrote.

He wishes to visit his daughter again to personally see her condition and attend court hearings, specially the oral argument on Nov. 13. DFA’s Sarep told him that the Philippine government will still ask the Kuwaiti Embassy here if his wish could be granted.

“Masakit pa rin sa kalooban ko na ganoon pa rin ang desisyon, walang pagbabago. Gusto ko sana naroon ako kapag basahin na ang desisyon sa kaso niya (It still hurts that the decision remains. I want to be there when the final decision about her case is read.),” Rosario said.

If the decision would be upheld by the Cassation Court, Marilou will be hanged. According to Migrante International, there are at least 35 OFWs currently on death row, and most of them are in the Middle East. (Bulatlat.com)

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