As the family of Marilou Ranario, an OFW in death row in Kuwait, awaits for the promulgation of the decision of the Kuwait’s highest court on November 27, they hope that she would eventually be released. They fear that Marilou would not be able to survive life imprisonment in a Kuwaiti jail given her health condition.
BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Bulatlat
MIGRANT WATCH
Vol. VII, No. 42, November 25-December 1, 2007
The father of Marilou Ranario, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) on death row, said that the possible commutation of her daughter’s sentence from death to life imprisonment would not make a big difference.
“Masakit din sa kalooban ko kung life imprisonment dahil hindi ko rin s’ya makikita,” said the 64-year old father Rosario. “Parang balewala dahil ‘di s’ya makakapiling ng mga anak n’ya.” (It would also be difficult for us if the sentence would be commuted to life imprisonment because still we would not see her. It’s as if nothing would change because she would not be with her children.)
Rosario is also worried that Marilou will not be able to bear being imprisoned for the rest of her life because of her deteriorating health condition.
“Dapat padoktoran nila dahil tingin ko…depressed na s’ya,” (They should have her checked up by a doctor because I think she is depressed.) he said, as he recalled that her daughter has turned skinny and did not talk when they visited her in Kuwaiti jail in April 2006. “Sa tingin ko hindi n’ya kakayanin sa ganu’ng lagay ang habambuhay na pagkabilanggo.” (I don’t think she would be able to survive long with her condition if she would be imprisoned for life.)
Marilou languishes in death row after a Kuwaiti Court sentenced her to death by hanging in September 2005 for killing her female employer. An appeals court upheld this decision in February 2007. Marilou’s case is under final appeal with Kuwait’s highest court, the Court of Cassation. Oral arguments were held on November 13 with the final decision expected on November 27.
Dismayed
Rosario told Bulatlat that he was not informed by concerned Philippine officials regarding the date of the promulgation of the decision on his daughter’s case.
“Medyo may hinanakit nga ako,” (I have misgivings.) he said, adding that he was not even informed about the outcome of the November 13 oral arguments, including the scheduling of the promulgation of the decision set on November 27. Even Marilou’s siblings, Weng and Allan, were not informed even through text messages, Rosario said.
Rosario was also dismayed when he, together with Migrante leaders, tried to hold a dialogue with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs November 19 during a protest action led by Migrante International. Migrante International leaders accompanied Rosario inside the department to inquire about his daughter’s case.
To his disappointment, Rosario and Migrante leaders waited for almost half an hour at the gate.
“Bilang magulang, bakit nila ako hindi pinapasok. Sana sa loob na lang ako pinaghintay,” (As a parent of an OFW why did they not let me in. They could have made me wait inside.) he lamented.
Meanwhile, Lian Santos, Migrante deputy secretary general, said that it was only last November 22, after a series of protest actions in front of the DFA, were they provided with the documents containing details of the oral arguments.
Moreover, Migrante leaders and Rosario accused the department for allegedly “concealing” information.
A November 15 DFA press release said that the case of Marilou will be promulgated by Kuwait ’s highest court on December 27.
But Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs’ Executive Director Relacion Crescente told Rosario and Migrante leaders during their surprise visit at the DFA on November 19 that the actual date of promulgation would be on November 27 and not December 27 as earlier reported. This was confirmed by Undersecretary Esteban Conejos during a telephone conversation with Senator Jinggoy Estrada on November 20, when Migrante leaders and Rosario visited the senator for assistance in getting information.
“This is incredibly distressing news. Either they are guilty of deliberately concealing this information or they are just incredibly inept,” said Santos.
Another confusing statement allegedly came from the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration Office in CARAGA which announced that the promulgation will be in February, reported the Save Marilou Ranario Movement chapter in the CARAGA region.
“By not providing the family with timely and accurate information about Marilou’s critical case, the DFA is worsening the grief they are already suffering. “When does information about an OFW’s case ever become ‘confidential’ even for the OFW’s own family – especially when a life is at stake?” Santos asked.
